The surname Sharp dates back to the 12th century in England, where it was originally derived from the Old English word "scearp", meaning "sharp" or "pointed". The name was used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a sharp or angular appearance, or for a person who had a sharp mind. The first recorded instances of the surname Sharp date back to the mid-12th century, and it has since become one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world. In Scotland and Ireland, the surname Sharp may also have originated from the Gaelic word "O'Searbhaigh", which means "sharp one" or "keen-sighted one".