Wyer - Name

This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible derivations. The first of these is as a variant form of the name 'Weir', also found as 'Wear', and 'Ware', which can be either a topographical surname, given in the first instance to someone who lived by a dam or weir on a river, or an occupational surname for someone employed as the keeper of a fishing-weir, and thence 'a fisherman'. The derivation of the name from this source is from the Old English pre 7th Century 'waer, wer', weir, fish-trap, dam. The second possible origin for the modern surname 'Wyere' is as a variant form of 'Wayre' or 'Weyer', a topographical name for someone who lived by a bathing-pond or stream, derived from the Middle English 'weyour', Old French 'gayoir'. The christening of Jane Wyer was recorded at St. Margaret's, Westminster, in London, on July 18th 1539. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter de la Were, which was dated 1242, The Fees Court Records of Herefordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, 'The Frenchman', 1216-1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.