Surname Wier - Meaning and Origin
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Wier: What does the surname Wier mean?
The last name Wier is believed to be a toponymic or a habitational name, which means its origin is based on the geography or location of the original bearer. This type of surname is derived from the name of an area or town in which the bearer used to live or had a particular relationship with.
The Wier last name originated in Germany and can be found in parts of France and other European countries. The name is believed to have originated from the word "weiher," which is German and refers to someone living by a body of water. In this case, it could refer to a family living near a pond or lake.
The Wier family is said to have had strong religious ties with the German Reformed Church and could be traced back to the late 17th century. An example of this is the Wier family cemetery located in Pennsylvania, USA. This cemetery has burials of people bearing the Wier name as early as 1675.
The Wier family name has been used by many notable people throughout history, such as the musicians Rudy Wier (17th century) and Chris Wier (21st century), the politician and diplomat Jacob Wier (18th century) and the soldier Henry Wier (18th century).
Overall, the last name Wier is believed to have originated from Germany and is tied to the geography of an area as well as to the German Reformed Church. It has been used by many well-known people and continues to have a strong presence in many parts of the world to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisWier: Where does the name Wier come from?
The last name Wier is most common today in the United States. According to the 2020 Census, the last name Wier was the 6,978th most common last name in America, with approximately 2,436 people sharing that surname. The greatest concentrations of the Wier surname in the United States are found in the Central South region, in particular within Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. It is found throughout the Eastern United States as well, particularly throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
Outside of the United States, the surname is most commonly found in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, and South Africa. It is rarer in other countries including the United Kingdom, France, and Mexico, though it can still be found in small pockets.
The origin of the last name Wier is Dutch. It comes from a word similar to the English word “weird”, which referred to unusual or peculiar behaviors or attributes, and was used as a descriptor by Dutch people in centuries past. As the name began to be used as a surname, it developed and evolved in unique ways over time, leading to the modern spelling of “Wier”.
Variations of the surname Wier
The surname Wier is an old English occupational name which was derived from 'the wood,' meaning a person who lived in or near a wood. There are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Wier, including Wire, Wyer, Wyre, Wier, Wierr, Wyerre, Weer, Weerre, Weere, Wheer, Whier and Wheere.
The earliest known record of the surname Wier is found in the English county of Essex in 1184, where the name Wiger is recorded. In Scotland, the earliest record of the name is found in 1205, when William Wyre is recorded as a land-holder or feu in Berwickshire. The name can also be found recorded in the Domesday book of 1086 as Wire, meaning a person who lived on a wooded area of land.
Variations of the surname Wier can be found in a number of different countries around the world. In countries such as Germany, some spellings of the surname are Weyer, Weyher and Weyhre. In the Netherlands the variation is Weeren, while in Denmark, Weier is recorded. The surname has also been recorded in a number of different American states including Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland as well as the names Ware and Weir.
Overall, the surname Wier is an ancient name which has a number of variants and spellings across Britain and the world, and which has its roots in the English word for wood or forest.
Famous people with the name Wier
- John Wier: graphic illustrator and art director for Sony Interactive Entertainment.
- Samuel Wier: scientist and inventor of the electric motor and electric heater.
- Collins Wier: American singer-songwriter known for his love ballads.
- Daniel Wier: professional game designer, editor, and award-winning author of science fiction and fantasy books.
- Charles Wier: award-winning potter and ceramicist who has been working with clay for over thirty years.
- Richard Wier: American sculptor and preservationist notable for creating many life-sized bronze figures.
- Hiram Wier: American naturalist and outdoor adventure leader who explored the Great Smoky Mountains.
- Edwin Wier: businessman and philanthropist who built a successful career in the fuel industry.
- William Wier: American painter best known for his bold, colorful modernist landscapes.
- Thomas Wier: noted American poet and critic whose review work has been featured in a wide variety of publications.