NameCensus.

UK surname

Wears

An occupational surname referring to one who made or sold garments or clothing.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Wears surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 469, ranked #10,491, down from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wears is 488 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.9%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

469

2016, ranked #10,491

Peak year

1998

488 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wears had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 469 in 2016, ranked #10,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wears surname distribution map

The map shows where the Wears surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Wears surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wears over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 163 #12,156
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 317 #10,611
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 424 #8,905
1997 modern 480 #9,602
1998 modern 488 #9,780
1999 modern 480 #9,971
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 457 #10,113
2002 modern 464 #10,181
2003 modern 435 #10,571
2004 modern 420 #10,889
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 421 #10,798
2007 modern 427 #10,782
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 444 #10,797
2010 modern 455 #10,802
2011 modern 470 #10,432
2012 modern 473 #10,279
2013 modern 481 #10,315
2014 modern 482 #10,371
2015 modern 474 #10,418
2016 modern 469 #10,491

Geography

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Where Wears' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Mains and Strathmartine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and Newcastle upon Tyne. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Mains and Strathmartine Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 009 County Durham
2 County Durham 008 County Durham
3 Redcar and Cleveland 004 Redcar and Cleveland
4 County Durham 001 County Durham
5 Newcastle upon Tyne 003 Newcastle upon Tyne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wears

These lists show first names that appear often with the Wears surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wears

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wears, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Wears surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wears household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Wears is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wears is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Wears falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wears is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wears, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wears

The surname WEARS is an English occupational surname that originated in the late medieval period, likely derived from the old English word "werien," meaning to wear or to dress. It was initially given to those involved in the textile trade, such as weavers, tailors, or dressmakers.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname WEARS can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. These areas were known for their thriving textile industries during that time.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners in England compiled during the reign of King Edward I, there are several entries mentioning individuals with the surname WEARS or variations like Weare and Weyre.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Wears, a successful merchant from York who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several local records and documents from that period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the WEARS surname spread to other parts of England, with some families settling in counties like Essex, Suffolk, and Devon. One prominent figure was William Wears (1592-1669), a wealthy landowner and member of the local gentry in Essex.

In the 18th century, the WEARS surname gained further recognition with the rise of Thomas Wears (1718-1792), a renowned architect and surveyor from London. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Royal Exchange in London.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Wears (1763-1846), a philanthropist and social reformer from Lincolnshire. She was instrumental in establishing several schools and charitable organizations in her local community.

The 19th century saw the WEARS surname spread further across the British Isles and beyond, with families immigrating to various parts of the British Empire, including Australia, Canada, and South Africa. One notable figure from this period was Sir John Wears (1841-1922), a successful businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Melbourne, Australia, in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wears families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wears surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 140 Wears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.24x.

County Total Index
Durham 140 16.24x
Northumberland 95 22.04x
Angus 18 6.71x
Middlesex 15 0.52x
Yorkshire 12 0.42x
Sussex 5 1.02x
Essex 4 0.70x
Kent 4 0.40x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Urpeth in Durham leads with 22 Wears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1309.52x.

Place Total Index
Urpeth 22 1309.52x
Mains 17 745.61x
Chirton 13 133.20x
Westoe 13 26.61x
Gateshead 12 18.60x
Hetton Le Hole 12 109.89x
Byker 10 46.93x
Pelton 10 243.90x
Shildon 10 144.30x
Seaham 9 286.62x
St George In East 9 45.66x
Tynemouth 9 38.99x
Westgate 9 33.72x
Middlesbrough 8 21.40x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 31.08x
Stranton 8 27.57x
Prudhoe Castle 7 833.33x
Winlaton 7 84.64x
Benfieldside 6 105.82x
Brandon Byshottles 6 55.56x
Heaton 6 419.58x
Wallsend 6 43.89x
Brighton 5 5.07x
Newbottle 5 106.16x
North Shields 5 58.14x
Bedlington 4 27.80x
Cowpen 4 40.28x
Framwellgate 4 78.28x
Hayes 4 135.14x
Ormesby 4 51.81x
West Ham 4 3.17x
Woolwich 4 10.95x
North South Gosforth 3 545.45x
South Gosforth 3 600.00x
Stanhope 3 33.71x
Weetslade 3 400.00x
Wingate 3 50.76x
Darlington 2 6.01x
Gorton 2 6.19x
Heworth 2 11.78x
Monkseaton 2 416.67x
Seaton Carew 2 115.61x
South Blyth Newsham 2 235.29x
Cheadle 1 8.19x
Dundee 1 1.00x
Edmondsley 1 108.70x
Elvet 1 16.08x
Holmside 1 47.17x
Longbenton 1 5.48x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 5.95x
North Clifton 1 555.56x
Poplar London 1 1.83x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.43x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wears surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 28
Ann 15
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 12
Jane 8
Margaret 7
Hannah 6
Isabella 5
Anne 3
Charlotte 2
Dorothy 2
Ellen 2
Georgina 2
Rebecca 2
Susanna 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anney 1
Barbara 1
Cora 1
Elizbth. 1
Ellenor 1
Elspeth 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Fncis. 1
Francis 1
Hanah 1
Harriet 1
Josephine 1
Lizzie 1
Louis 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Phillis 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rebeca 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wears surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 24
John 21
Thomas 18
James 16
George 14
Robert 12
Joseph 7
Matthew 3
Edward 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Alan 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Jno. 1
Jon 1
Lancelot 1
Mathew 1
Ralph 1
Sam 1
Samson 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Wears surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wears surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Wears surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wears surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 469 in 2016. That gives Wears a modern rank of #10,491.

What does the Wears surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who made or sold garments or clothing.

What does the Wears map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wears bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.