Searles

Searles is a surname of English origin. It is borne by numerous individuals in English-speaking countries and appears in historical and contemporary records.

Searles Lake is a large, dry salt lakebed in the Mojave Desert of southern California, located mainly in San Bernardino County with parts in Inyo County, near the community of Trona. The lakebed contains extensive evaporite mineral deposits and has long supported mining and processing activities. Brines from the Searles Lake system yield minerals such as borates and carbonate minerals, including trona, as well as chlorides and other evaporites. In the 20th century, mining and refining in the Searles Valley produced materials used in glassmaking, metallurgy, and agriculture. Modern operations continue to process brines in the region, including those run by Searles Valley Minerals.

Searles Valley is the geographic basin in the Mojave Desert that encompasses Searles Lake and surrounding lands. The valley spans portions of San Bernardino and Inyo counties and includes mining towns and industrial facilities that have shaped the local economy.

Notable people with the surname Searles include a range of figures across science, culture, and public life, reflecting the name’s distribution in English-speaking regions. In addition to individuals, the name appears in local toponyms and corporate names associated with the California region.