weier

Weier is a German-language surname and, less commonly, a place-name element. It is generally considered to be toponymic, derived from the Middle High German weiher, meaning a pond, marsh, or wetland associated with a settlement. The form Weier may have originated as a designation for people who lived near such features or for inhabitants of places named with this element. Variants include Weiher and regional spellings such as Weir or Weeier in some records.

The surname is attested in German-speaking areas since medieval times and is today found throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Through migration and diaspora, it has also appeared in North and South America and other regions with German heritage.

Notable bearers: There are individuals bearing the name who have contributed to local communities, academia, or culture, but no single widely recognized figure is universally associated with the name.

In onomastic studies, Weier illustrates the development of German toponymic surnames from natural landscape features and place names, reflecting patterns of habitation and identity in German-speaking Europe.