WEAVER
Weaver is an English surname of occupational and, in some instances, locational origin. It is recorded predominantly in the British Isles, particularly in England, and its bearers have traditionally been Christian.
The occupational derivation of the name is rooted in the Middle English term wevere, which denotes a person who weaves cloth. This, in turn, traces back to the Old English verb wefan, meaning “to weave”. In the medieval period a surname such as Weaver would have identified an individual whose trade involved interlacing threads on a loom to produce fabric. Over time the name became hereditary, persisting even when later generations no longer practised the weaving craft.
In addition to its occupational sense, the surname may be locational. The place name Weaver Hall in Cheshire, recorded as Wevre in the Domesday Book of 1086 and as Wevere in 1300, gave rise to the surname for persons who originated from that settlement. The hall stands on the River Weaver, whose name derives from the Old English word wefere, meaning “a winding stream”. Locational surnames such as this were adopted when former inhabitants migrated elsewhere and were identified by their place of birth.
Early documentary evidence of the surname includes the 1259 Assize Court roll of Cheshire, which records the name of Simon de Wevere during the reign of King Henry III (1216‑1272). Variant spellings that have been documented include Weavers, Wafer, Weafer, and Wever, reflecting the fluid orthography of the medieval period.
An eminent bearer of the name was John Weaver (1673‑1760), a celebrated dancing master who introduced pantomime to England. His prominence illustrates how the surname, though originating in a specific trade or locality, eventually encompassed individuals distinguished in a variety of cultural fields.
Typical given names associated with the Weaver surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joanne
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Weaver in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Weaver are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger Nut.
There are approximately 15,043 people named Weaver in the UK. That makes it the 585th most common surname in Britain. Around 231 in a million people in Britain are named Weaver.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Weaver
- Sigourney Weaver - American actress
- Al Weaver - Actor
- Nicky Weaver - Football player
- Blue Weaver - Musician and songwriter
- Simon Weaver - Football player and manager
- Harriet Shaw Weaver - Magazine editor, journalist and political activist (1876 to 1961)
- Mick Weaver - Session musician
- Sam Weaver - Football player and manager (1909 to 1985)
- James Weaver - Racecar driver
- Iain Weaver - Boxer
- Luke Weaver - Football player
- Jason Weaver - Cricketer
- John Weaver - Dancer and choreographer (1673 to 1760)
- Walter Weaver - Football player (1898 to 1965)
- Philip Weaver - Cricketer (1912 to 1991)
- Eric Weaver - Welsh football player
- Jonathan Weaver - Ice hockey player
- Charles Yardley Weaver - Canadian politician (1884 to 1930)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.