Surname Wiar - Meaning and Origin
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Wiar: What does the surname Wiar mean?
The last name Wiar is of German origin and is thought to come from a contracted form of the personal name Wilhelm. It is believed to have been a patronymic name created from a father's given name.
The name Wiar is typically found in the Germanic regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It may also be found in some English speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to immigration.
Variants of the name include Wire, Vier, Wier, Wiere, Wiertz, Weir, Wiering, Wierths, Vears, Weyers, and Weirich. Each of these versions may also take on other spellings within different countries and cultures.
The meaning of the last name Wiar is typically thought to be someone who is “resolute” or “determined.” This is because Wiar is derived from the name Wilhelm which roughly translates to “steadfast.”
Overall, the last name Wiar is considered an occupational name that was used in the medieval period. People with this name were known for their determined and driven personalities, and used this trait to excel in various business endeavors.
Order DNA origin analysisWiar: Where does the name Wiar come from?
The last name Wiar is not particularly common today as it is quite a rare surname. The majority of people with the name Wiar can be found in the United States, with the states of New York, New Jersey, and California having the highest concentrations of this surname.
In 2020, the United States Census Bureau estimated that there were only 44 people living in the United States with the last name Wiar. According to the Social Security Administration, the most frequent birthplace for those bearing this name was the United Kingdom. It is likely that the surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Vígi-Ar", and then evolved to Wiar over time.
The Wiar surname can also be occasionally found in other English-speaking countries, primarily in parts of the United Kingdom and Canada. It is believed that many of the Canadian bearers of the surname are descended from immigrants who originated from England.
The Wiar population outside of the United States is small, but not altogether insignificant. As of 2016, people with the WIAR surname constituted 0.00011% of Great Britain's population, with 34 people being recorded with the surname in the country.
With such a small population, it is unsurprising that few people with this surname are noted in professional or celebrity circles. However, some notable people with the surname of Wiar include H.R Wiar, a former US Army major general and one-time commander of the First Army of the United States, and Gordon R. Wiar, a Canadian federal politician.
Variations of the surname Wiar
The surname Wiar is a variant of the surname Wire, which in turn is a variation of the English surname Wake. The surname is derived from the Old English 'wacian' meaning "to watch or awaken", and was originally given to someone as a descriptive nickname for somebody who was watchful or diligent in their work. The variants of this surname include: Wyer, Wier, Weyer, Wire, Weir, Wyre, Wyar, Wyer, Wyar, Weiar, and Whar.
The surname was also spelled 'Wyar' and 'Weiar' in Scotland, and as 'Wyer' in Ireland. At one time this name was very common in England and Wales, and the dialectal variants are still found there as well as other locations in Great Britain and Ireland, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The surname can be found in records from the 13th century onwards, with the earliest known records of the surname being in the Brecon Lathes of Monmouthshire, England. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname was Dapifer Wygar in 1259. The name is also found in the records of Scotland, where it was first recorded in the form of the personal name Wiare in 1342.
There are also a few other surnames that are related to Wiar. The Welsh surnames Wrigley and Wagg derive from the same roots, while the related Irish surnames O Weaire, O Wiare, and O Wyer all have the same origin.
In conclusion, the surname Wiar is a variation of the Old English 'wacian', which means "to watch or awaken", and can be found with various spellings and variants, such as Wyer, Wier, Weyer, Wire, Weir, Wyre, Wyar, Wyer, Wyar, Weiar, Whar, Wrigley, Wagg, O Weaire, O Wiare, and O Wyer. All of these surnames derive from the same roots and have been shared among families in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland for centuries.
Famous people with the name Wiar
- Jacob Wiar: Jacob Wiar is an American rock musician, producer, and actor. He is the lead guitarist for the band The Killers and featured in two of their multi-platinum albums, Sawdust and Day & Age.
- Gregory Wiar: Gregory Wiar is a British stage, film, and television actor known for his roles in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Last Kingdom, and the anatomy of a scene podcast.
- Robert Wiar: Robert Wiar is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in and promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Jim Wiar: Jim Wiar is an American sportscaster who is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Pac-12 Network and the LA Clippers broadcast team.
- Kathy Wiar: Kathy Wiar is a British actress best known for her roles in the BBC series Bad Girls and the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
- James Wiar: James Wiar was an American football coach and administrator in the National Football League. He was the general manager of the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1958 and the Los Angeles Rams from 1969 to 1972.
- Keith Wiar: Keith Wiar is an American guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with the band Pearl Jam, which he joined in 1994.
- Nancy Wiar: Nancy Wiar is a Canadian painter whose work has been exhibited in galleries across the country including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
- Andreas Wiar: Andreas Wiar is a Swedish actor best known for his roles in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and the biographical series The Bridge.
- Elizabeth Wiar: Elizabeth Wiar is a renowned American artist whose work has been showcased in galleries across the US, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.