Eyre

Eyre is a surname of English origin and a toponym used in English-speaking countries. It appears in personal names as well as geographic designations, often commemorating explorers or local features.

In literature, the name is best known from Jane Eyre, an 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë. The title character, Jane Eyre, is an orphaned governess whose life story, told in the first person, explores resilience, morality, and social class in 19th-century England.

In geography, the Eyre name figures prominently in Australia. The Eyre Peninsula is a large peninsula in South Australia, lying between the Great Australian Bight and Spencer Gulf. The Eyre Highway is the long road linking Port Augusta in South Australia with the Western Australian border, crossing the Nullarbor Plain. Other Australian features carry the Eyre name in reference to 19th-century explorer Edward John Eyre, who conducted significant exploration in the region.

Notable people with the surname include English theatre and film director Richard Eyre. The name also appears in various fictional works and as a toponym in other regions, reflecting its historical usage in English-speaking countries.