Wyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Wyer has a few possible origins. The name may be toponymic, from a place name near which the original bearer lived or held land. Place names which could have inspired the surname Wyer could be Weier, Weiher, Wieren, and Weyer in Germany or Wierum in Holland. Or the surname could be locative, from a geographical feature near where the bearer resided. In either case, the name would be derived from the Middle German word "weiher" meaning "a pond or still water" or from the old German water-word "wir." The surname Wyer may also be patronymic, from the first name of the father of the initial bearer. In this case, the surname Wyer would come from the personal name Wigheri, stemming from "weihen" meaning "holy."
Early Origins of the Wyer family
The surname Wyer was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families in the western region. From the 13th century onwards the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. Haintz Weyer from Heudorf was recorded in Riedlingen in 1434, and Magdalena zum Weiher, widow of Erasmus zum Wiger, in Freiburg in 1572. A shoemaker named Martin Weyermann was mentioned in documents of 1644.
Early History of the Wyer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wyer research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1596, 1610, 1620, 1621, 1623, 1640, 1666, 1670, 1690 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Wyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wyer Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Weyer, Weyher, Wier, Weyhe, Weyier, van der Weyer, van den Weyer, Weye, Weyers, Wyers, Wyer, Wiermann and many more.
Early Notables of the Wyer family
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Wyer migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Wyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Martha Wyer, who arrived in New Hampshire in 1719
- Archibald Wyer, who settled in New Hampshire in 1721
- John Wyer, who arrived in America in 1755
Wyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- John Wyer, who sailed to New Orleans in 1820
- David Wyer, who arrived in New Orleans in 1821
- Edward Wyer, who landed in New York in 1821
Wyer migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Wyer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. David Wyer U.E. born in Falmouth, Maine, USA who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a Shipmaster as well as an Officer Customs and part of the Penobscot Association 1
- Mr. John Wyer U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Cape Ann Association 1
- Mr. Thomas Wyer U.E. born in Falmouth, Maine, USA who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Penobscot Association, he Graduated from Harvard 1
Wyer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Peter Wyer, who immigrated to Quebec in 1823
Wyer migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Wyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Jacob Wyer, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
- Mr. Joseph Wyer, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
- Mr. Thomas Wyer, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Wyer 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:
Wyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Henry Wyer, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 4
- Mr. Henry Wyer, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 4
Contemporary Notables of the name Wyer (post 1700) +
- John Wyer (1909-1989), American automobile racing engineer and team manager
- William W. Wyer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Maine 3rd District, 1913 5
- Edward Wyer, American politician, U.S. Consul in Riga, 1813-17; Hamburg, 1817-21 5
- Russell Wyer, Australian rugby league player
- Reginald Wyer (1898-1970), British cinematographer
Citations +