Surname Wire - Meaning and Origin

Wire: What does the surname Wire mean?

The last name Wire is of English origin and comes from Middle English word ‘wire’. This was an occupational name for someone who worked with metal and wire, and was likely an artisan who used wire in his craft, such as a blacksmith or a goldsmith. The term was also used to describe things that are fashioned from metal- so someone with this surname could have been referred to as a ‘wireworker’ or even ‘iron wirker’.

The surname Wire could have also been used to describe someone who was involved in the construction and maintenance of fences and other structures created from metal wiring. This was especially common in farming communities, as fences needed to be repaired and tend to on a regular basis.

The first recorded use of the surname Wire is traceable back to the 15th century in Old French and was spelled as ‘whyere’ when it was first used. The spelling changed to ‘wire’ in the Middle English period and became more popular with the introduction of the printing press in the 1600s.

The name Wire has evolved over time and is now used to refer to any person who is involved in the use of metal in their profession, or who crafts products with wire for selling or use. It is also a popular name for a few different sports teams in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Wire: Where does the name Wire come from?

The last name Wire is most commonly found in the United States. It is one of the top 3,000 surnames in the US, with an estimated 16,000-22,000 living bearers of the name today.

The name is most prevalent in the southern states. The states with the highest concentration of Wire bearers include Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Illinois, Virginia and Alabama. There is also a higher number of Wire bearers in East coast states such as Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

Wire is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic last name O’Dubhain or O’Dubhuirdery. The name is derived from the Dublin county of Ireland. Wire families moved to the United States in waves during the 19th and early 20th centuries, settling in parts of the United States and bringing the last name through immigration.

In addition to the United States, Wire can also be found in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and parts of New Zealand.

Wire is likely an occupational surname, however the exact source of the name is not known. It is believed to be derived from an old English word meaning weaver or fabricator. It is also possible that it originated from an Norse word meaning “wicker basket maker.”

Variations of the surname Wire

The surname Wire has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant would be Wyer, which is the Oxfordshire spelling of Wire. Other variants include Wires, Wier, Wieres, and Wyres. In Ireland the surname is found as O’Wire, O’Wyer, or O’Wiere.

This surname could also be found as Wyre in Devon and as Weir in Scotland, where it is thought to be an altered form of O’Farrelly. In Scotland it is also commonly found as Whyte.

The surname is also found in France as Lefeuvre and de la Fevre. It is also thought to be the root of similar French names such as Leve, Levee, Lever, Levieux, Levaux and L’Eveille.

The spelling Wire is also found in Germany, but it is commonly spelled Wiere. In Spanish, it is found as Wirez.

The Wire family is believed to have migrated to England centuries ago from Normandy, France. This can be evidenced by the fact that the family tried to keep the original spelling of the surname with variations in spelling occurring in different countries as a result of language barriers.

Famous people with the name Wire

• Bob Wire: an American singer-songwriter, poet, and musician.
• Stephen Wire: an English actor known for his roles in films such as The Princess Bride and A Clockwork Orange.
• Peter Wire: a British illustrator and author of several graphic novels.
• Jerry Wire: an American skater, pro snowboarder, and public speaker.
• Edwin Wire: a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• John Wire: a former American football player for the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
• Jamie Wire: an American former NBA player.
• Brandon Wire: an American former National Football League wide receiver.
• Clarence Wire: an American actor, voice actor, and hip hop recording artist.
• Kelly Wire: an American singer and songwriter.
• Warren Wire: an American rapper.
• Alan Wire: an English former professional footballer.
• David Wire: an Australian-born actor best known for his roles in the films The Matrix Revolutions and The Lord of the Rings.
• Stephen Wire: an English football player who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers.
• Mandy Wire: an English professional wrestler.
• Tricia Wire: an American award-winning film producer and documentary filmmaker.
• Tonya Wire: an American television presenter and commentator, best known for her reporting on the NFL Network.
• Rod Wire: an American rock musician and songwriter.
• Ellen Wire: a Canadian songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist.
• Eddie Wire: an American basketball coach and former player who was on the Utah Jazz championship team in 1997.

Other surnames

WirbaWirbitzkiWirbitzkyWirbkaWiresWirfelWirflerWirigWirnerWirnharterWirnhierWirsbitzkeWirsbitzkiWirsbitzkyWirtWirtenbergerWirtgenWirthWirthgenWirthlWirthleWirthsWirtlWirtsWirtzWirzbaWirzbicki