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

Were, 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 Were surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Were in America

Were is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Were surname appeared 116 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Were.

The history of the last name Were

The surname "WERE" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. This surname is thought to be derived from the Old English word "woer," which referred to a weir or dam used for trapping fish in rivers or streams.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Werra," which likely represents the Old English pronunciation of the word from which the surname is derived.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname "WERE" began to appear more frequently in various historical records, particularly in areas of England where fishing and related activities were prominent. Some of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname include John Were, a landowner in Kent in the year 1273, and William Were, a fisherman from Sussex mentioned in a court record from 1327.

The surname "WERE" has also been associated with certain place names, such as Weremere (meaning "pond by the weir") in Dorset, and Weerholme (possibly derived from "woer" and "holme," meaning "river island") in Yorkshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname "WERE." One prominent example is Sir Clement Were (1569-1633), an English politician and member of Parliament who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1625. Another notable figure was John Were (1619-1689), an English clergyman and author known for his religious writings.

Other individuals with the surname "WERE" include Isaac Were (1589-1666), an English Puritan minister and writer, and Jacob Were (1733-1795), a prominent Anglican clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Dulwich College in London.

While the surname "WERE" originated in England and was closely tied to the fishing industry and related occupations, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its earliest roots and historical references can be traced back to the medieval period in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Were

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

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 Were 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.

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 Were was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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