Surname Warr - Meaning and Origin
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Warr: What does the surname Warr mean?
The surname Warr is derived from an Old English word meaning “watch or guard”. This origin suggests that the surname Warr was initially used as an occupational name for someone who was a guard or sentry, usually in the military. It is thought that this surname first appeared in the region of Wiltshire, England in the 12th century.
The early origin of this name makes it difficult to trace its exact roots, but it is believed that it was derived from the Old English word “war”, meaning watch or guard. This suggests that the Warr surname may have been a military occupational name, or it could have been a local name for someone who looked after animals.
The surname Warr could be found throughout England during the Middle Ages, but its higher concentration was in the Wiltshire area. This suggests that it could be a local Wiltshire name, or that the family had its origins in this area.
Today, the surname Warr can be found in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Those bearing this name are found throughout the world, but its greatest concentration is still in England, where it originated.
Because of the early origin of this surname, there may not be much further information about its family history as records were not kept in those early centuries. However, the surname has endured over the centuries and is still found across many countries today.
Order DNA origin analysisWarr: Where does the name Warr come from?
The last name Warr is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to the 1881 UK Census, the last name Warr was most prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Shropshire, and Lancashire. It is also present in the United States, although the number of people with this name is much lower than in the UK, and it is more likely to be found in states with large populations of people of English descent.
In the US the last name Warr is found primarily in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Warr can also be found scattered across many other states including Ohio, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, and North Carolina.
It is possible the last name Warr may have derived from the Welsh word “Warre,” which means “fox.” This name may have gained popularity in England during the mid-11th century when the Normans invaded and many Welsh people adopted Norman names. Another explanation may be that it is derived from the Old French word “wari,” which was a term used to refer to a person who was either an heir or administrator of an estate.
However, it is not possible to definitively answer the question of where the last name Warr came from. Regardless of its origin, the last name Warr is one of many surnames with British and European roots.
Variations of the surname Warr
Warr is an English surname typically found in the West Midlands region of England. It is most likely derived from the Old English element ‘wara’ meaning ‘guard’. The surname has numerous spelling variations including War, Ware, Waire, Wear, Wearr, Wave, Wayer, Warre, Warr, Waer, Weare, Werr, Waree, Warry, Warly, Welch and Wauch.
Other surnames which are thought to be variations of Warr include Worsley, Warbey, Warby, Warburton and Warford. These names are all derived from locations in the West Midlands which are associated with Warr families.
Variations of Warr are also found in other countries including Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and the United States. In Scotland, the Warr name has been changed to Warro, Warrel, Warrow, Werrill, Warroch, in Ireland to Warrell, Warrell and Worrell, in Germany to Warauf, Warp, Warberg and Werrback, and in the United States it is found as Wara, Ware, Warr and Warrell.
In addition to these variants, the surname Warr is often changed when new family members arrive in a new country in search of a better life. Immigrants may Anglicize their name in order to make it easier for others to pronounce or spell; for example, the Italian surname Varra could become Warr upon arriving to the United States.
This name has held its popularity over several centuries and is found throughout the world in many different spellings, histories and traditions.
Famous people with the name Warr
- Teddy Warr: a professional rugby league player who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League.
- Huw Warr: a Welsh-born classical music composer and conductor who served as the Principal Conductor of the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra during the early 1980s.
- Winifred Warr: a British actress, most famously known for her stage roles in productions of William Shakespeare's plays, in addition to appearances in films and television series.
- Mable Warr: a significant figure within early 20th Century Australian theatre culture, has been described as a ‘pioneer of women’s theatre’.
- Michael Warr: an American poet, writer, and professor, best known for his works exploring race and culture.
- Derek Warr: an English cricketer who currently plays for Middlesex County Cricket Club.
- Douglas Warr: a British soldier and diplomat, who served in multiple overseas postings in his career, including two tours of duty in Iraq.
- Louella Warr: a British sculptor, most famously known for her large-scale works featuring bronze, stone, and wood.
- Alec Warr: an American visual artist, best known for his post-Abstract Expressionist paintings and printmaking.
- Earl Warr: an American civil rights leader and activist, best known for his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement in the Southern United States.