Surname Weir - Meaning and Origin

Tracing the Weir Lineage: A Reinterpretation of Ancestry

Discovering the unexpected ancestry through iGENEA's DNA test was both an enlightening and humbling experience. The journey didn't just redefine my roots but taught me a significant lesson about the vast tapestry of human life and history, altering my understanding of who I am and where I come from.

Z. Weir

Weir: What does the surname Weir mean?

The last name Weir has an interesting and sometimes confusing origin. It is a surname of Scottish and Northern Irish origins and is known to have been particularly popular in Ulster during the 16th century. The spelling and pronunciation of the surname vary slightly depending on the region. It is sometimes spelt as ‘Wire’ in Scotland.

The origin of the name almost certainly derives from Old English 'wīr' meaning 'marsh' or 'swamp' and was given as a topographical name to someone who lived near such a location. As such it is thought to have originally been an occupational name for a person who lived or worked in a marshland area. It is believed to have become particularly popular in the north of England and Scotland when families took the name of their localities as a surname.

The Weir surname is also known to have been taken as a nickname by people with bad or unfriendly temperaments, however this is not as common as the geographical origin of the name.

Despite this, Weir remains a popular Scottish and Irish surname, ranking in the top 500 of both these countries. It is also a surname found throughout the English speaking world, and is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most enduring in British and Irish history.

Weir: Where does the name Weir come from?

The surname Weir is most commonly found in Great Britain and Ireland, although it is also present in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In England and Wales, the name is most commonly found in the North East of the country, as well as in the Midlands and Yorkshire. In Scotland, the name is found most often in the East and West of the country.

In Ireland, the surname Weir is particularly common in the Province of Ulster, where it originates, as well as in County Antrim and County Down. It is also found in parts of the Republic of Ireland, especially in County Meath.

In the United States, the name is most often associated with the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, although it can also be found in other states. Similarly, in Canada the surname is most commonly found in Ontario and Quebec.

In New Zealand, the surname is mainly found in the South Island, and in Australia most often in New South Wales and Victoria.

The surname Weir has remained fairly common over the years, with the most recent records showing that it is among the top 500 surnames in Great Britain and Ireland.

Variations of the surname Weir

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Weir are:

Ware, Wier, Wiere, Weirr, Weier, Weire, Weirre, Veir, Veire, Veirre, Vier, Viere, Vierr, Wyar, Wyard, Wyart, Wiard, Werr, Wer, Wyer, Wyre, Wyerr, Wearr and Werr.

Weir is an old Anglo-Saxon surname, originated from the pre-7th century word “wara”, meaning to watch. The surname is often confused with the Scottish name “Weir”, which derived from the word “vir”, meaning river. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Weir was a common name in England and Scotland, with the spelling “Wier” being the most common variation.

By the mid-1800s, the spelling of Weir had largely settled to include variations such as Ware, Wier, Wiere, Weirr, Weier, Weire, Weirre, Veir, Veire, and Veirre.

At the turn of the 20th century, the surnames Wyar, Wyard, Wyart, Wiard, Werr, Wer, Wyer, Wyre, Wyerr, and Wearr had emerged as modern spelling variants. The spelling of “Werr” is still the most commonly used today.

The Weir surname is still very common in Scotland, where it is the 15th most popular surname. It is also popular in Ireland and the United States.

Famous people with the name Weir

• Andy Weir: American novelist best known for the book and film adaptation of The Martian.
• Dennis Weir: American professional basketball player who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972.
• John Weir: English tennis player who won the Queen's Club Championships in both singles and doubles in 1949.
• Peter Weir: Australian film director, known for films such as Gallipoli, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Witness, and Master and Commander.
• Sloan Weir: Canadian figure skater and Olympic medalist who were part of the 1958 World Figure Skating Championships team with fellow pair Marika Kilius.
• Sandy Weir: Scottish actress and television presenter known for her appearances on shows such as Newsround and The Saturday Show.
• Lesley Weir: British journalist and author, known for her work for a range of publications such as The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian.
• Fred Weir: Canadian country singer-songwriter, and winner of a Canadian Country Music Association Award in 1985.
• Vincent Weir: former Zimbabwean cricketer who represented his country in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
• Rob Weir: English professional tennis player and winner of three ATP Tour events.

Other surnames

WeiandWeiandtWeiantWeibWeibbrechtWeibchenWeibelWeibelzahlWeibertWeiberthWeibezahlWeibezahnWeibgenWeibhauserWeibkeWeiblWeibleWeibleinWeiblenWeiblerWeiboldWeiboldtWeibrechtWeichWeichardWeichardtWeichartWeichboldWeicheWeichel