Surname Weare - Meaning and Origin

Weare: What does the surname Weare mean?

The surname Weare is of English origin, derived from locations named "Weare" in Somerset and Devon in England. The place names could have potentially come from the Old English words "wær," or "wer", which mean "weir, dam, fishing-trap," referring to places where fish were caught. Therefore, the last name could mean "one who lives by or works at the fishing weir."

The first recorded spelling of the family name Weare came in the year 1201 as Warre in Somerset. Over the years, the variations in the spelling of the surname range from Weare, Wear, Were and others.

In England, there are still towns called Lower Weare and Upper Weare in Somerset, which are most likely the places from which the surname originated. Though not as common as some other surnames, Weare is spread across the world due to the diaspora of the English people during the British Empire's period of expansion.

Weare: Where does the name Weare come from?

Weare is an English surname that has been around since the Middle Ages, and can still be found in many parts of England today. Generally, Weare is associated with the South West of England, particularly the counties of Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire.

People with the surnames Weare, Wear, Ware, Wearne and Whare can trace their ancestry to the same root. The original Weare surname is thought to have been derived from a place name, likely related to a stream or river where the family originated. The name generally refers to someone who lived and worked by a weir or fishing trap, which were commonplace across the South West.

Weare is a fairly common surname today, and can be found in many parts of England, as well as Australia, South Africa and the United States. It is most commonly found in the South West, probably due to the fact that many of the families originated in that part of the country.

It is also relatively popular in North America. In the United States, Weare is the 922nd most common surname, while in Canada it is the 326th most common, according to the 1990 census.

Overall, the surname Weare is still common in many parts of England and abroad, though it is most frequently found in the South West and North America.

Variations of the surname Weare

Weare is a surname of English origin. It is derived from an Old English personal name, Weir, and can also be spelled as Wear, Weary, Weer or Weere. The name is believed to have been originally used as an occupational surname, derived from a person who had the occupation of watchman or overseer, or a surname referring to a person who lived near a weir, which is a dam built across a waterway, usually to raise the level of water upstream or to regulate its flow.

The variants of this surname include Wear, Weary, Weer, Weerby, Weaver, Webber, Webley, Weerah, Weerey, Wheare, Wheary, Wherritt, Wherry and Were.

The Weare surname has been recorded throughout the British Isles since very early times. It has assimilated into many other cultures including the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and is also found in places with ties to the British Isles, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Weare spelling of this surname is found in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the US, the spelling of the name is often changed to Wear, Weary or Weer. In Ireland the spelling is found as Wheat, Wheatley and Whelan; in Scotland as Weir or Whare; and in Wales as Whear and Wheary.

Today there are many different spellings of the Weare surname throughout the world, but all have the same basic origin. Regardless of the spelling, all share a rich history that is connected to that of the British Isles.

Famous people with the name Weare

• Richard Weare: British television producer and director best known for his work on British crime dramas.
• Gordon Weare: Canadian politician and former Member of Provincial Parliament for Richmond in Nova Scotia.
• Jodie Weare: British actress, known for her roles in Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
• Ruth Weare: British author and educational consultant, best known for her writing about numeracy and mathematical reasoning in classrooms.
• Norman Weare: Former ice hockey player in the British Hockey League, and a member of the British Olympic hockey team in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
• Harrie Weare: English footballer and manager who achieved most of his success in his managerial career, managing clubs like Walsall, Leicester City, and Plymouth Argyle.
• John Weare: English cricketer and former Leicestershire county cricketer who represented England in 25 Test matches over his career.
• John Weare St John: British soldier and cricketer who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1917 for his service in World War I.
• William Weare: English amateur footballer who played in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers in the 19th century.
• Christopher Weare: British actor and model best known for his one-off appearances in television and film productions.

Other surnames

WearWearingWearlyWears