Surname Wears - Meaning and Origin

Wears: What does the surname Wears mean?

The last name Wears is an English surname, most likely derived from a place name. It is thought to originally be derived from a small hamlet near the town of Warkworth in Northumberland, Northeast England, which is where the earliest records of the name are found. Other variations of the name include Weir, Wiers, and Wyer.

The meaning of the name Wears is related to the place where it originated. It can be derived from the Old English 'wer' meaning 'a weir', or a dam on a river that is used for fishing or taking fish by trapping them in nets or traps. It can also be derived from the Old English 'wiru' meaning 'an enclosure or settlement', referring to a village, which is likely what was near the hamlet from which the name originated.

Regardless of its origin, the last name Wears remains a testament to the people who had it, as it can be used to trace historical connections. Over time, this name spread around the world and has taken different forms, but its original association with a particular place remains. It is a reminder of the history of this particular family, of their connection to the land and its history.

Wears: Where does the name Wears come from?

The last name Wears is most prevalently found in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded approximately 828 individuals with the Wears surname living in the U.S. in 2010. The highest number of Wears living in one state was recorded in Pennsylvania, with 115 individuals. The majority of Wears living in the U.S. are located in the Midwestern region of the country, with the states of Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana having the next highest population of Wears in the 2010 census. The overall highest population of Wears however is in the state of California, with 136 Wears as of 2010.

Outside of the United States, Wears is largely concentrated in Canada, and specifically in the province of Ontario. As of the 2016 census, 421 Canadians from the province declared their last name as Wears. The name is also common in England, where Leonard Wears first established the family name in 1444. The population of Wears in England decreased significantly after World War II, however many still remain in the country today.

The Wears surname has a deep history in England and in the United States. Though today the population of individuals bearing this illustrious name is not as large as it was historically, the Wears name lives on in many countries throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Wears

The surname Wears can have many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is Wears, while other variants include Weirs, Were, Weer, Wear, Wire, Weir, and Wyre.

Variants of the surname Wears can be found in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the United States. In England, the surname is most commonly seen spelled as Wears or Wire. In Ireland and Scotland, the most common variations of Wears are Were, Weer, Weir, and Wyer. In Wales, the spelling is usually Gweir, while in the United States, it is usually spelled Were.

Some of the other surnames related to the variant spellings and spellings of Wears are Wearmouth, Wast, Ware, Werr, Wier, Waier, Warr, Wither, Wyke, Wheir, Weare, Wier, Wheer, Whier, Wacks, Wer, and Wearsmith.

These variants and other related surnames can be seen as far back as the 11th century in the British Isles. This is evidenced by records which show that one of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Wears was William Weres, who was living in Berkshire in 1184.

It’s worth noting that many variations of the surname Wears have also evolved over the centuries, due to linguistic shifts as languages evolve and migrate, involuntary emigration to other countries, and even the whims of immigration officers.

Therefore, it is not unusual to find assorted spellings of the same surname, which can make researching historical families somewhat difficult. However, with careful attention to detail, many online resources, and a bit of patience, it is possible to trace a family's history and its many spellings and variants.

Famous people with the name Wears

• Dave Wears: US Olympic swimmer who represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.
• Jeanette Wears: award-winning American Actress known for her appearances in various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, such as in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
• Lindsay Wears: Canadian actress best known for her leading roles in the television series The Listener and Bomb Girls.
• Robert Wears: former Major League Baseball player who played for four teams in his seven-year career.
• Richard Wears: Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the VFL/AFL.
• Alan Wears: British actor best known for his role as Odo in the TV series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine".
• Charles Wears: American athlete who won gold medals at the 2007 Pan American Athletics Championships, competing in the men's long jump and triple jump.
• Jimmy Wears: British singer-songwriter who gained attention in the late 1990s with his indie rock band, The Wears.
• Chris Wears: American professional rodeo cowboy who has been competing on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit since 2010.
• Casey Wears: Emmy-nominated American child actor who starred in the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete as Little Pete Wrigley.

Other surnames

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