Contents [hide]

Wearne History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Wearne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Wearne is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Wearne family lived in Sussex. Their name, however, is a reference to Varrenne, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1 Despite this name's resemblance to the Germanic Guarin, often translated as Warin, the names are not thought to be related.

Gundrada de Warenne (d. 1085), wife of William de Warenne, first Earl of Surrey, was long supposed to have been a daughter either of William the Conqueror and his queen Matilda of Flanders, or of Matilda by an earlier marriage with Gerbod, advocate of St. Bertin. 2

Early Origins of the Wearne family

The surname Wearne was first found in Sussex, Surrey, Norfolk and Suffolk where William de Warene, or Warrena married Gundard, a daughter of William the Conqueror, received great possessions and later became progenitor of the Earls of Warenne and Surrey. 3

One of the first on record was William Warenne or Warren, first Earl of Surrey (d. 1088), who "appears to have been the son of Rodulf or Ralph, called 'filius episcopi,' by his second wife, Emma, Rodulf himself being the son of Hugh (d. 1020), Bishop of Coutances, by a sister of Gunnor, wife of Richard I (d. 996), Duke of the Normans. His name was derived from his fortress situated on the left bank of the Varenne, and called after that river, though later called Bellencombre. " 2

Another source goes into more detail: "William de Warren, Earl of Warren, in Normandy, a near relation of the Conqueror's, came into England with that Prince, and having distinguished himself at the battle of Hastings, obtained an immense portion of the public spoliation. He had large grants of lands in several counties, amongst which were the Barony of Lewes, in Sussex, and the manors of Carletune and Beningtun, in Lincolnshire. So extensive indeed were those grants, that his possessions resembled more the dominions of a sovereign prince, than the estates of a subject. He enjoyed, too, in the highest degree, the confidence of the king, and was appointed joint justice-general, with Richard de Benefactis, for administering justice throughout the whole realm." 4

Hamelin de Warenne, Earl of Warenne or Surrey (d. 1202), was an illegitimate son of Geoffrey 'Plantagenet,' Count of Anjou (d. 1151), and was therefore half-brother of Henry II. "His importance dates from the rich marriage which he was enabled to make by the goodwill of his half-brother the king. In 1163 or 1164 he married Isabella de Warenne. Hamelin is henceforward called 'Comes de Warenne' and lord of his wife's great estates in Yorkshire, Surrey, Sussex, and Norfolk. " 2

John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey or Earl Warenne (1231?-1304), was the son of William de Warenne, Earl of Warenne or Surrey (d. 1240.) His son was John de Warenne Earl of Surrey and Sussez, or Earl Warenne (1286-1347.)

Poynton in Chester, "anciently called Ponynton and Poynington, remained in the possession of the male line of the family of Warren from the reign of Edward III. till the year 1801, when it terminated in Sir George Warren, K.B., from whose daughter, Viscountess Bulkeley, the manor passed by will to the Hon. Frances Maria Warren, afterwards Lady Vernon, who was succeeded by her son the present lord. " 5

Early History of the Wearne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wearne research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1138, 1148, 1399, 1563, 1580, 1581, 1604, 1605, 1609, 1617, 1620, 1628, 1694, 1889, 1910, 1912 and 1924 are included under the topic Early Wearne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wearne Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Warren, Warrene and others.

Early Notables of the Wearne family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Edward Warren (1563-1609) of Stockport, Cheshire; and Richard Warren (c. 1580-1628), A London merchant and passenger on the Mayflower in 1620.William Warren (fl. 1581), was an English poet, two works are known but only one copy of one of the...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wearne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wearne family to Ireland

Some of the Wearne family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wearne migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Wearne name or one of its variants:

Wearne Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Warn and John Wearne, who were sent to America as emigrants in bondage in 1752 and 1758

Wearne migration to Australia +

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

Wearne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Wearne, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cheapside" in 1849 6
James Wearne, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 7
Mr. John Wearne, (b. 1834), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer, from Wendron, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Rajastan" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 11th January 1855 8
Richard Wearne, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"
Mr. Thomas Wearne, (b. 1858), aged 27, Cornish farmer travelling aboard the ship "SS Abergeldie" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 24th August 1885 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wearne 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:

Wearne Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Eliza Wearne, (b. 1872), aged 1 year and 6 months, Cornish settler departing on 10th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cathcart" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 10
Mrs. Elizabeth Wearne, (b. 1845), aged 29, Cornish settler departing on 10th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cathcart" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 10
Miss Grace Wearne, (b. 1874), aged Infant, Cornish settler departing on 10th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cathcart" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 10
Mr. Mathew Wearne, (b. 1870), aged 4, Cornish settler departing on 10th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cathcart" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 10
Mr. William Wearne, (b. 1847), aged 27, Cornish miner departing on 10th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cathcart" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Wearne (post 1700) +

Jim Wearne (b. 1950), American singer-songwriter
Frank Wearne (1913-1985), American racecar driver who grew up in Altadena, California
Elizabeth Wearne, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1960 11
Joseph Wearne (1832-1884), born in Cornwall, England, an English-born Australian politician, Member for West Sydney (1869–1874)
Stephen Christopher Wearne (b. 2000), English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for National League Gateshead
Edith Ann Wearne (1889-1956), English housewife of Thomas Clinton Pears (1882–1912), great great grandson of soap manufacturer Andrew Pear, both sailed aboard the RMS Titanic, Edith survived while Thomas was lost
Captain Keith Morris Wearne (1892-1917), English soldier and casualty of World War I, falling in the Battle of Arras on 21 May 1917, brother of Frank Wearne
Frank Bernard Wearne VC (1894-1917), English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions on 28 June 1917, east of Loos, France
Richard Alexander Wearne (b. 1972), Australian-born Sydney-based professional photographer and rower, an Olympian who won medals at three World Rowing Championships
Walter Ernest Wearne (1867-1931), Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1917 until 1930
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Wearne family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Harry E Wearne (b. 1914), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

RMS Titanic

Edith Wearne, Edith Wearne, birth name, aged 22, English First Class passenger from Isleworth, London who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 8, her husband Thomas Chilton Pears died 13

The Wearne Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Leo de juda est robur nostrum
Motto Translation: The Lion of Judah is our strength.

Citations +

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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CHEAPSIDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cheapside.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "WILLIAM MONEY" 1848-49. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WmMoney.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html