NameCensus.

UK surname

Weir

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a weir or dam on a river.

In the 1881 census there were 7,865 people recorded with the Weir surname, ranking it #532 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,592, ranked #563, down from #532 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whitburn Central, Armadale and Upper Nithsdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Weir is 11,593 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

7,865

Ranked #532

Modern count

11,592

2016, ranked #563

Peak year

2014

11,593 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Weir had 7,865 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #532 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,592 in 2016, ranked #563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,418 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Weir surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Weir surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Weir 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 5,053 #545
1861 historical 5,421 #510
1881 historical 7,865 #532
1891 historical 8,151 #537
1901 historical 9,418 #555
1911 historical 2,710 #1,910
1997 modern 10,759 #574
1998 modern 11,067 #582
1999 modern 11,191 #576
2000 modern 11,149 #574
2001 modern 10,827 #581
2002 modern 11,127 #577
2003 modern 10,861 #578
2004 modern 10,933 #577
2005 modern 10,913 #567
2006 modern 10,927 #563
2007 modern 11,057 #563
2008 modern 11,165 #562
2009 modern 11,411 #564
2010 modern 11,580 #568
2011 modern 11,440 #569
2012 modern 11,187 #567
2013 modern 11,443 #567
2014 modern 11,593 #565
2015 modern 11,551 #562
2016 modern 11,592 #563

Geography

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Where Weirs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whitburn Central, Armadale, Upper Nithsdale, Lesmahagow and Muirhouse and Knowetop. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whitburn Central West Lothian
2 Armadale West Lothian
3 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
4 Lesmahagow South Lanarkshire
5 Muirhouse and Knowetop North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Weir

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Weir

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Weir, 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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Weir is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Weir is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Weir falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Weir is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

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Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Weir families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Weir 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. Lanarkshire leads with 2,415 Weirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.83x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 2,415 9.83x
Midlothian 672 6.60x
Renfrewshire 525 8.92x
Ayrshire 436 7.67x
Lancashire 409 0.45x
Middlesex 277 0.36x
Argyllshire 256 12.11x
Dunbartonshire 244 11.95x
Northumberland 221 1.96x
Durham 190 0.84x
Angus 176 2.50x
Stirlingshire 167 5.96x
Aberdeenshire 165 2.35x
Fife 145 3.22x
West Lothian 129 11.28x
Caithness 127 12.21x
Surrey 86 0.23x
Buteshire 85 18.47x
Cheshire 83 0.49x
Cumberland 83 1.27x
Dumfriesshire 80 4.77x
Yorkshire 67 0.09x
Kent 65 0.25x
Wigtownshire 55 5.45x
Banffshire 53 3.36x
Perthshire 46 1.35x
Peeblesshire 43 12.03x
Roxburghshire 41 2.98x
Selkirkshire 34 4.95x
Staffordshire 30 0.12x
Kincardineshire 25 2.70x
Warwickshire 24 0.13x
Gloucestershire 23 0.15x
Essex 22 0.15x
Hampshire 22 0.14x
Inverness-shire 22 0.97x
East Lothian 21 2.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 21 1.91x
Berwickshire 16 1.74x
Hertfordshire 14 0.27x
Somerset 14 0.11x
Sutherland 14 2.40x
Devon 13 0.08x
Montgomeryshire 12 0.69x
Sussex 12 0.09x
Glamorgan 11 0.08x
Worcestershire 11 0.11x
Ross-shire 9 0.43x
Northamptonshire 8 0.11x
Shetland 7 0.90x
Lincolnshire 6 0.05x
Morayshire 6 0.51x
Merionethshire 5 0.36x
Norfolk 5 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.05x
Monmouthshire 4 0.07x
Oxfordshire 4 0.09x
Berkshire 3 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.09x
Dorset 3 0.06x
Isle of Man 3 0.21x
Royal Navy 3 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.04x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.32x
Bedfordshire 1 0.03x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Derbyshire 1 0.01x
Leicestershire 1 0.01x
Orkney 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 468 Weirs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.70x.

Place Total Index
Govan 468 7.70x
Barony 423 6.80x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 279 6.81x
Glasgow 269 6.17x
Carluke 120 53.79x
Old Monkland 112 11.49x
West Greenock 92 8.71x
Lesmahagow 83 31.94x
South Leith 81 7.07x
Bothwell 78 11.71x
Wick 78 23.22x
Whitburn 75 45.37x
Shotts 73 24.83x
New Monkland 71 9.78x
Dunoon Kilmun 67 40.62x
New Kilpatrick 61 31.41x
Carnwath 60 39.49x
East Greenock 59 10.61x
Carstairs 58 113.97x
Dalserf 57 23.25x
Hamilton 57 8.32x
Abbey 56 6.23x
Cathcart 56 17.58x
Toxteth Park 55 1.80x
Muirkirk 54 40.45x
Kilmarnock 50 7.39x
Crawford 48 104.69x
St Vigeans 47 12.37x
Paisley High Church 46 9.81x
Dalziel 45 17.02x
Dysart 44 14.53x
St Pancras London 44 0.72x
Rothesay 40 17.94x
Dundee 39 1.48x
Dunfermline 38 5.50x
Maryhill 37 7.69x
Rutherglen 37 10.26x
Lambeth 34 0.51x
Old Kilpatrick 34 14.09x
Renfrew 33 16.97x
Blantyre 32 12.51x
Cardross 32 13.05x
Bonhill 31 9.46x
Cambusnethan 31 5.68x
Dumbarton 31 10.91x
Kirkdale 31 2.04x
Everton 30 1.04x
Lanark 30 15.18x
Mid Calder 30 68.03x
Bute North 29 93.10x
Kirknewton East 29 68.17x
Manchester 29 0.72x
Strachur Stralachlan 29 165.90x
Cambuslang 28 11.30x
Kilsyth 28 15.67x
Sanguhar 28 125.34x
Campbeltown 27 10.58x
Paisley Middle Church 27 7.88x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 26 1.98x
Carmichael 26 127.83x
Currie 26 41.73x
St Ninians 26 9.36x
Stonehouse 26 31.19x
Aberdeen Old Machar 25 1.70x
Cadder 25 13.78x
St Marylebone London 25 0.62x
East Kilbride 24 22.81x
Edinburgh Canongate 23 8.88x
Islington London 23 0.31x
Biggar 22 39.60x
Port Glasgow 22 7.73x
Row 22 8.33x
Sorn 22 19.70x
Eastwood 21 5.79x
Kirkcaldy 21 9.41x
Riccarton Hurlford 21 21.06x
Elswick 20 2.22x
Gateshead 20 1.18x
Melrose 20 11.56x
Widnes 20 3.08x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Weir surname: questions and answers

How common was the Weir surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,865 people were recorded with the Weir surname. That placed it at #532 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Weir surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,592 in 2016. That gives Weir a modern rank of #563.

What does the Weir surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a weir or dam on a river.

What does the Weir map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Weir 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.