Weaver Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Weaver last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Weaver last name
Meaning of the Weaver last name: weaver of cloth, or dweller by the Weaver river. Weaver is mostly an occupational name for a weaver of cloth, from Old English wefan, "to weave". In Cheshire it can instead come from the River Weaver, whose name means "winding stream". Weaving was a domestic craft in many English villages, and the surname clusters today in the West Country and the Midlands. In America it often stands for the German Weber, carried by Pennsylvania settlers. Weaving was one of the main crafts of medieval England, and the wool trade was the basis of the English economy. The name is recorded from the 13th century as le Wevere. In Cheshire, the River Weaver gave its name to families living along it, such as those at Weaverham. In Pennsylvania, German settlers named Weber, "weaver", often anglicized their name to Weaver, which helps explain its frequency in the United States. It is widespread in Pennsylvania and the South.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Weaver name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Weaver name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Weaver name FAQ
What does the Weaver name mean?
Weaver of cloth, or dweller by the Weaver river. Common variants include Weever, Webber, Weber.
Where does the Weaver surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Weaver coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Weaver crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Weaver coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.