Surname Wearing - Meaning and Origin
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Wearing: What does the surname Wearing mean?
The surname Wearing is of English origin and it is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century words 'waerung' or 'warunge', which translate as 'defender' or 'protection'. The name was typically given to individuals who protected or watched over something or someone, essentially acting as a guard or warden. Some sources suggest that it could also have originated from the term "waring", which indicates a meadow or grassy patch within trees. This could imply that the initial bearers of the name lived or worked near such a location. Like many English names, it has gone through various spelling transformations over the centuries, such as Waring, Wearing, Wiring, and variations thereof. It is relatively rare as a first name but more common as a surname, predominantly found in Northern England. One of the earliest recorded ancestors bearing this name is Richard Waring, noted in the Staffordshire Chartulary of 1150. As with all surnames, any specific meaning should be taken lightly as surnames often evolved based on profession, geographical location, or even personal characteristics.
Order DNA origin analysisWearing: Where does the name Wearing come from?
The last name Wearing is most common in England and Wales, where it ranks as the 34th most common surname. It is also fairly common in the United States, where it ranks as the 634th most common surname. It may also have traditional roots among other English-speaking countries, including Scotland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa.
It is believed that the Wearing surname comes from the Old English word "wearinge," which means "clothing." The name is believed to be of occupational origin, referring to people who worked in the clothing profession, such as tanners, shearers, tailors, and merchants. It may also refer to people who simply wore fashionable clothing, such as nobles and gentry.
In modern times, the Wearing surname has spread around the world, but it remains most prevalent in England and Wales, where families have had the surname for centuries. There are many different spellings of the name as well, such as Wearin, Weearing, Wearyn, Warin, and Werin.
Regardless of where someone with this name may be from, they likely share a common ancestral origin. The Wearing surname provides a link back to those multiple generations that originated from a common source.
Variations of the surname Wearing
The surname Wearing can have multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The origin of the surname is Old English, meaning the dweller at the weir or enclosure on the river. Variations of the surname Wearing may include the surnames Waren, Wareing, Waring, Wern, Wiering, Weirring, and Wearinge. The German spelling of this surname is Waren, and the Dutch spelling is Wierings.
The derivative surnames of Wearing include Warin, Weering, Werring, Wearingham, Wearring, Wearng, Wernham, Werrington, Weryng, Weerinck, Wering, Wearingey, Wearin, Wearang, Wernering, and Werning. The Irish form of the surname Wearing is O’Wearin, and the Scottish spelling is Warring or Wahring.
The alternate spellings of the surname Wearing include Werynge, Warying, Weryng, Wearn, Warin, Weerink, and Waringham. The main variant forms of the surname Wearing include Werin, Warein, and Warin.
Wearing can also be a variant of the French surname Varenne. Variations of the French surname Varenne include Varenne, Varenn, Vurned, Varin, Weldren, Varine, Vareney, Varnce, and Verney.
The surname Wearing is widely spread throughout England, Wales, Scotland, France, and Ireland. This surname is also present in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Wearing
- William Wearing: British military officer, most known for his role in the Battle of Tanga.
- Chris Wearing: Australian Paralympic rower and cycling champion who competed in the 1976 Paralympic games in Toronto, winning a gold medal in rowing.
- Elton Wearing: Australian artist, sculptor and art teacher, known for his naturalistic watercolour paintings and his sculptures in bronze and recycled materials.
- Rob Wearing: British marathon runner, won the London Marathon in 1990 championing the English National Fencing Team.
- Christian Wearing: British journalist and author, known for his many books on British history, including "England in the Age of War and Revolution" and "The English Revolution".
- Stephen Wearing: Canadian philosopher and professor at the University of Toronto, specializing in the philosophy of science, ethics and metaphysics.
- Jack Wearing: British actor most known for his starring roles in the films "Eat Pray Love" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".
- Georgia Wearing: Australian stage, television, and film actor, best known for her role in the Australian TV series, “Offspring.”
- Leslie Wearing: Australian photographer, known for his environmental portrait work of Sydney's Inner West and the Pacific Islands.
- Desmond Wearing: British public speaker and author, best known for co-authoring the book "Life Skills: A 21st Century Primer".