Show ContentsWearing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wearing is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Wearing came from the Old French personal name Guarin meaning to shelter or protect. 1

Early Origins of the Wearing family

The surname Wearing was first found in Devon at Waringstown where the family are descended from John Waring who later settled in Ireland temp. James I. It was there he founded another Waringstown, a village in County Armagh. Waring's son, Samuel, brought Flemish weavers to the village, built Huguenot style cottages for them, some of which survive today. The patriarch of the family was Miles Sire de Guerin, who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. 2 He was originally a vassal of the Odo, the Bishop of Bayeaux.

Early History of the Wearing family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wearing research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1610, 1614, 1638, 1658, 1660, 1671, 1678, 1679, 1681, 1683, 1685, 1687 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wearing History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wearing Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Wearing are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Wearing include Waring, Wareing, Waringe, Wearing and others.

Early Notables of the Wearing family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Waring (1614-1658), an English author, descended from an old Staffordshire family settled at 'the Lea' in the time of Henry VIII. "His father was Edmund Waring and his mother the daughter of Richard Broughton of Owlbury. " 3Edmund Waring (c 1638-1687), was an English landowner and politician of Owlbury, Member of Parliament for Bishop's Castle (1660-1681) and (1685-1687.)William Waring (1610-1679), was an English Jesuit, "who was best known in England by the assumed name of Harcourt, although he was at times known as Barrow, was born in Lancashire. In 1671 he was...
Another 112 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wearing Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wearing family to Ireland

Some of the Wearing family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Wearing migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Wearing Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Christopher Hammond Wearing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 4
  • Augusta Wearing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 4
  • Alexander James Wearing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 4
  • Ellen Wearing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 4
  • Jelen Augusta Wearing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Recovery" in 1839 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Wearing migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Wearing Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Selina Wearing, (b. 1851), aged 14, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Greyhound" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th May 1865 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Wearing (post 1700) +

  • John Peter Wearing (b. 1945), English-born American author and professor
  • Ms. Gillian Wearing C.B.E., O.B.E. (b. 1963), born in Birmingham, England, English Artist and winner of the 1997 Turner Prize, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Art by Her Majesty The Queen 6
  • Gillian Wearing (b. 1963), English conceptual artist
  • Michael Wearing (1939-2017), British television producer for the BBC
  • Alison Wearing (b. 1967), Canadian writer
  • Ben Wearing (b. 1989), Australian footballer
  • Benny Wearing (1901-1968), Australian rugby league player


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RECOVERY from London 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Recovery.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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