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

Wire, 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 Wire surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wire in America

Wire is the 19306th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wire surname appeared 1,402 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 Wire.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wire 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 Wire

The surname Wire has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from a geographical feature or a place. The earliest known form of the name is thought to originate from the Old English word "wīr," meaning wire or metal thread. This suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have been involved in, or lived near, an area known for metalworking or wire-making. There is a possibility that the surname also refers to a person who lived on or near a winding pathway, which in Old English was known as a "wīr."

The earliest recorded references to the surname Wire date back to several English county records in the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest mentions is found in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1272, where a Robert le Wire is documented. It points to the existence of individuals bearing the surname during this time and indicates the occupational nature of the name.

Historical records show that the Wire surname appears in various documents over the centuries. In 1327, a John le Wire is found in the Subsidy Rolls for the county of Worcestershire. Notably, these early records often had variations in spelling, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling in English at that time. Other variations include Wyer and Wier.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Wire. One such figure is Thomas Wire, an English silversmith born in 1723, who made significant contributions to metalwork in London. Another historical figure is William George Wire, born in 1804, who was a noted antiquarian and artist specializing in preserving the history and topography of Essex and its surrounding areas.

The surname Wire is also associated with various places. For instance, there is a "Wire Hill" in Surrey, which may have connections to the origins of the name. In some old maps and manuscripts, places with similar names like Wyer and Wier indicate areas where families with this surname resided.

As the surname spread, it also appeared in records outside of England. In the early 17th century, during the period of English colonization, individuals with the surname Wire emigrated to colonial America, paving the way for its presence in the New World. Notable among these early settlers was Richard Wire, who appeared in the Virginia muster rolls of 1624.

Other notable figures bearing the surname Wire include Alexander Wire, a prominent merchant in 18th-century Edinburgh, born in 1765, who played a significant role in the city's trade and economic developments. Another significant figure is Sarah Wire, an author and poet born in 1832, known for her contributions to Victorian literature.

While the surname Wire is relatively rare, its history offers insights into the occupational and locational aspects of English surnames. It exemplifies how surnames evolved based on occupations and geographical features while also reflecting the social and economic activities of medieval and early modern England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wire

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

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

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

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