Find out how popular the last name Weir is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Weir.

Weir, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Weir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Weir in America

Weir is the 1903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Weir surname appeared 18,881 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Weir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Weir to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Weir

The surname WEIR is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "wer" which means a dam or barrier across a river. The name likely originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a weir or dam.

In the early medieval period, the surname WEIR emerged in various parts of England, particularly in areas near rivers, streams, and waterways. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th and 13th centuries in various county records and charters.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname WEIR. However, it does mention several place names that incorporate the word "wer," indicating the prevalence of this topographic term in that era.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname WEIR was John atte Were, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. This spelling variation reflects the common practice of using prepositions like "atte" (at the) before surnames in medieval times.

Another notable figure was Sir William de la Wyre, a knight from Lancashire who was active during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. The prefix "de la" indicated his connection to a specific place, likely a location with a weir or dam.

In the 15th century, the surname WEIR appeared in various records, including those of Thomas Weir, a merchant from Bristol, and John Weyr, a landowner in Somerset mentioned in the Feudal Aids of 1428.

During the 16th century, the surname WEIR gained prominence with individuals like Robert Weir, a Scottish mathematician and scholar born in 1548. He made significant contributions to the field of navigation and taught at the University of St. Andrews.

Another notable figure was John Weir, a Scottish minister and religious reformer born in 1579. He played a crucial role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland and was known for his fiery sermons and writings.

In the 17th century, the name WEIR continued to be prominent, with individuals like Robert Weir, a Scottish poet and playwright born in 1637. His works, including the tragedy "The Persecution of the Marquis of Argyll," reflected the tumultuous political and religious climate of that era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Weir

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Weir.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Weir was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Weir has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Weir was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Weir, please contact us.

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