Recorded as Suero, Suarez, Suerez, Suerz, Suiras, (Spanish) and Soeiro and Soares (Portugese), this is a surname of ancient Roman and pre 5th century Germanic origins. It is a compound name and it is known that the second element was the German word 'hari' meaning an army, but there is some considerable doubt as to the Latin prefix which may have been 'suetus' meaning accustomed or usual, although neither of these seem to quite fit with 'army'. The Iberian Peninsula containing Spain and Portugal was first conquered by the Romans about the time of Christ, and then after tghe Romans were driven out in the 5th century it became for several centuries a German colony until they in turn were driven out in about the 9th century. However both left behind relics of their occupation including personal names which in time became surnames. Early examples of the surname recordings taken from surviving Spanish registers include include Garcia de la Pedrosa Suarez, christened at Cadiz in 1542, and Maria Luisa Suerez christened at Valladolid, in 1715.

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