Explore the Family Name Cyr
The meaning of Cyr
1. French: from the personal name Cyr, a vernacular shortened form of Latin Cyriacus (see Cyriac, compare Cyriaque), a Christian saint’s name. The cult of St. Cyriacus (French name St. Cyr), a probably fictitious 4th-century infant saint, said to have been martyred at Tarsus with his mother Julitta, was particularly strong in medieval France. Compare St. Cyr. 2. Alternatively, an altered form of French Sire 1 ‘lord’. Compare Sear 2 and Sears 3. History: Pierre Cyr or, alternatively, Sire from France, of unknown parentage, arrived at Port-Royal in Acadia (now Annapolis Royal in NS, Canada), reportedly on the ship Espérance en Dieu, in 1668. He married Marie Bourgeois in Acadia c.1670. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Marcel, Normand, Fernand, Alban, Lucien, Adrien, Andre, Cecile, Pierre, Alphy, Emile.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Cyr in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Cyr has seen a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. In the year 2000, Cyr was ranked as the 2832nd most popular surname, which fell to 3029th in 2010, marking a change of -6.96%. However, despite the fall in rank, the actual count of people with the Cyr surname increased by 1.88% over the same period, from 11,611 to 11,829. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased slightly from 4.3 to 4.01, indicating a -6.74% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,832 | #3,029 | -6.96% |
| Count | 11,611 | 11,829 | 1.88% |
| Proportion per 100k | 4.3 | 4.01 | -6.74% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Cyr
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Cyr, there have been some fluctuations between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of people with the Cyr surname identified as White, although this percentage dropped slightly from 96.29% to 95.44%. Those identifying as Hispanic experienced the most significant growth, increasing by 59.32% to 1.88%. The group identifying with two or more races also saw an increase of 13.28%, reaching 1.45% in 2010. The Asian/Pacific Islander and Black identifications witnessed minor decreases, while there was a tiny increase in individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.29% | 95.44% | -0.88% |
| Hispanic | 1.18% | 1.88% | 59.32% |
| Two or More Races | 1.28% | 1.45% | 13.28% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.58% | -1.69% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.4% | 0.41% | 2.5% |
| Black | 0.27% | 0.24% | -11.11% |
Cyr ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Cyr is French & German, which comprises 39.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (36.5%) and Spanish & Portuguese (6.5%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Italian, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 39.1% |
| British & Irish | 36.5% |
| Spanish & Portuguese | 6.5% |
| Other | 17.9% |
Possible origins of the surname Cyr
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Cyr have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 74.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 73.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 73.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 73.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 73.50% |
What Cyr haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Cyr is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Farnsworth, Casteel, Wampler, Higginbotham, Stovall, Rivard, Maggard, Fortier, Whetstone, Pelton.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Cyr surname are: H1, H, V. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Cyr have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Cyr" Surname 38.9%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Cyr" Surname 27.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Cyr" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Cyr" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Cyr?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Cyr are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition