Surname Mawer - Meaning and Origin
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Mawer: What does the surname Mawer mean?
The last name Mawer is of English origin and is derived from the Middle English word 'mauer', meaning 'wall'. This name would likely have been used to describe an individual who built, repaired, or owned a wall, or perhaps someone who lived by or near a wall.
The earliest known record of this surname can be found in the 11th century Domesday Book in the spelling 'Mauer'. This book was a census of areas throughout England and Wales, with information about land and property owners of those time listed.
As Mawer is an occupational name, it likely has multiple variants and spellings, including variants such as Mayor and Mower. Other spellings of the surname can be found, including Maurer, Mawer, Mauer, Mowar, Mower, Mowrer, and Muller.
Due to the increasing number of people migrating to the United States from England in the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname is now found in both the United States and England. It is also found in other countries across Europe as well as Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.
The last name Mawer is more likely associated with the trades of carpenters, builders, masons, and artisans. It is also associated with strength, resolve, and hard work. Those with the Mawer surname are likely to have a strong work ethic and determination to succeed.
Order DNA origin analysisMawer: Where does the name Mawer come from?
The surname Mawer is of English origin, and is most common in the United Kingdom and Australia. In England, the surname is concentrated in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cornwall. In Australia, it is found mainly in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria.
According to the Great Britain Surname Index, Mawer is a much more common surname in modern times that historically. It is most popular in Australia, where it ranks 8,881 of a total of 88,799 surname population. It is also amongst the most common surnames of British Isles origin in the United Kingdom, and is ranked 5,788th of a total of around 6.2 million surnames.
In the United States the Mawer surname is much less common. The US population of the Mawer surname is estimated at just over 7,500 individuals, placing it in the top 5,000-10,000 range of surname populations in the country. Its highest concentration is in Ohio, with an estimated 270 individuals.
The Mawer surname is also found in other countries around the world, although these may be slightly less common than in the UK and Australia. It can also be found in Canada, New Zealand, and parts of Europe.
Whether derived from a personal name or from an occupation, Mawer is still commonly found in many countries and territories around the world.
Variations of the surname Mawer
Mawer is a surname of Old English origin. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon given name Maw, which is taken from the Old High German name Maug, meaning 'famed'. The variants of Mawer include Mauer, Maurer, Mower, Maior, Mawr, Mauro, Maiori and More.
The most common spelling of Mawer is Mauer, which is likely due to the fact that it is the German spelling of the name. Maurer and Mower are alternate spellings of Mauer, and come from other Germanic languages, such as Dutch and Frisian.
The Italian variants of the name, such as Maiori and Mauro, can also be found in Italy and other Italian-speaking countries. The surname Maior is also an Italian variant of Mawer.
In the United Kingdom, the variant Mawr is the preferred spelling of the name, as it is closer to the Old English origins of the surname.
Finally, the surname More is believed to be a variation on the Mawer surname. It is possible that this name originated as an altered spelling of the surname Mawer or as an adoption of the French version of the name, which is spelled with an extra R: Maurer. It is also possible that the name More is derived from other English surnames which have a similar sound, such as Moore, Mallory and Morley.
Famous people with the name Mawer
- Stanley Mawer: an English artist and illustrator, famous in the early 20th century for his satirical cartoons.
- James Mawer: an English author of historical fiction in the 18th century.
- William Mawer: an English clergyman, active in the early 19th century.
- John Mawer: an English mathematician and professor at Cambridge University, active from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century.
- Simon Mawer: a British novelist and author of The Glass Room.
- Neil Mawer: a contemporary English author and columnist.
- Susan Meyer: a 20th century American playwright, novelist and writer.
- Alexander Mawer: a British sports journalist, currently working for ESPN and the Football Association.
- David Mawer: an English poet, critic, and essayist from the mid-20th century.
- Alan Mawer: a contemporary British artist specializing in portrait and landscape painting.