Surname Weere - Meaning and Origin
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Weere: What does the surname Weere mean?
The surname Weere (or Wehre, Wehrie, Werre) originated in Germany. It is a topographic name, derived from a low-lying marshland region called "Wehre". It is also thought to be derived from the German word 'waire' meaning "guardian", suggesting the name may have been connected with a family who were the guardians of a boundary between two lands or estates.
The earliest record of this name is found in the 12th-century to 13th-century document of Rudgerus de Ware, found in the Monastery of Oberaltaich, in Bavaria. The document was a record of donations made to some nuns living in the monastery. This suggests that the family of Weere had ties to the church or even royalty in some cases.
The name Weere is thought to be derived from the Old German words 'vare', which means "bank, shore, bank of a river" and 'wari', which means “guardian”. It is possible that the family originally had guard duties at a boundary located on a shore.
The picture that is seen when the name Weere is mentioned is that of a noble and loyal guardian of a boundary or estate who has roots dating back to the 13th century. This noble and selfless family of guardians are said to have had allegiance to God and the Catholic Church and the name stands for responsible leadership, faith and loyalty in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisWeere: Where does the name Weere come from?
The last name Weere is quite uncommon today, though records indicate that it may have been more prevalent in past centuries. It is of Dutch origin, derived from the surname de Weere, and may have been more popular in the provinces of Zeeland and North Holland in the Netherlands, as well as French Flanders in Belgium. It is also recorded in parts of Germany.
The Weere family in Europe can be traced back to the 13th century, when the name was found in records from Belgium and the Netherlands. However, the family lost much of its influence in subsequent centuries as branches spread across the continent and into other countries.
There are very few Weere families residing in Europe today, and the prevalence of the name in other parts of the world is limited. In the United States, the most recent survey shows that the surname is only present in tiny numbers. It is also reported to be scarce in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as other countries.
Given its relative rarity, it is safe to assume that the Weere family has significantly declined over the centuries. Those families with the surname are probably spread over a wide geographic area, and may be completely unaware of each other’s existence. However, with sites like ancestry.com, it may still be possible for members of the Weere clan to reconnect.
Variations of the surname Weere
The surname Weere is an anglicized form of the German and Dutch surname Wier/ Wiere/ Weyre/ Weire/ Weyer. It originated in 13th century Germany as a locational surname given to someone from Wier, a village near Worms in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It was adopted by Dutch settlers who later moved to England in the 17th century and by Germans who immigrated to the United States and Canada during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The variants of the surname Weere include Wear/ Weary/ Weer, Weers, Weir/ Weirs/ Weirz. An alternative spelling of the surname is Weare.
The surnames Weere/ Weer/ Weers/ Weir/ Weirs/ Weirz/ Wearer/ Weyre/ Weire/ Weyer/ Weare are all of the same origin, however they can be traced back to different geographic locations. The Weere/ Weer/ Weers variants originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region in western Germany, meanwhile the Weir/ Weirs/ Weirz variant originated in Scotland. The Weyre/ Weire/ Weyer variants originated in the Netherlands, and the Weare variant originated in England.
Despite the different geographic origins, all variants of the surname Weere have the same meaning, which is “Island Dweller”. This refers to someone who lives on or near an island, possibly one of the Rhineland-Palatinate islands or the Wier Islands in Scotland.
The surname Weere is an uncommon surname today. However, it is still found in various parts of the world, particularly in Germany, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Weere
- Adriaan van der Weere, a Dutch poet
- Anthony van der Weere, a Dutch playwright
- Dirk Weere, a Dutch politician
- Johan van der Weere, a Dutch painter
- Johannes van der Weere, a Dutch painter and draughtsman
- John Derick Weere, a Dutch professional footballer
- Maartje van der Weere, a Dutch singer
- Natasja van der Weere, a Dutch ice hockey player
- Peder Henrik van der Weere, a Dutch admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy
- Siep van der Weere, a Dutch footballer
- William Ofology van der Weere, a Dutch bobsledder who competed in the early- to mid-1950s
- Jeroen van der Weere, a Dutch actor
- Pieter van der Weere, a Dutch writer
- Wilhelmina van der Weere, a Dutch chessmaster