The Dwyer surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 27,240 people carried this name — #1,291 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 10,800 people counted. That is up 2% from 26,759 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dwyer surname

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Duibhidhir (“descendant of Duibhuidhir”), a personal name composed of the elements dubh (“black, dark”) + odhar (“sallow, tawny”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Dwyer» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the dyer’ — the first of the origins he gives.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 260 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 155 births for the Dwyer name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 6,900 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 3 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 107
Leinster 38
Connacht 8
Ulster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In print

Dwyer in American newspapers,
1906–1914.

Newspaper page from The Central Nevadan carrying the name Dwyer
The Central Nevadan 1906-11-29
Newspaper page from The Watchman And Southron carrying the name Dwyer
The Watchman And Southron 1911-06-24
Newspaper page from The Lakeland Evening Telegram carrying the name Dwyer
The Lakeland Evening Telegram 1914-05-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 191,162 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Dwyer in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

220,706 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dwyer. The most, 52,643, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 2.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 64,734
Victoria 49,887
Western Australia 35,228
Queensland 34,348
Tasmania 26,550
South Australia 8,108
ACT (Canberra) 1,224
Northern Territory 195

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dwyer.

Who carried it

People named Dwyer,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Michael Dwyer
    Michael Dwyer 1772–1825 · military personnel
  • James William Dwyer
    James William Dwyer 1845– · politician
  • Patrick Dennis Dwyer
    Patrick Dennis Dwyer 1857–1889 · politician
  • Patrick Vincent Dwyer
    Patrick Vincent Dwyer 1858–1931 · Catholic priest
  • Catherine Winifred Dwyer
    Catherine Winifred Dwyer 1861–1949 · teacher

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 271 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dwyer,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States10,388 records

10,388 records of the Dwyer name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 3,287
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 3,106
  • Other U.S. records 3,995
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Lawrence Lee Dwyer

    Born 1950; from San Antonio, Texas. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Vincent M. Dwyer

    Born 1897 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island; clerk from Bronx County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1984, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Nora Dwyer

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 26; servant. From Cardiff, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 10,388 records for Dwyer in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia5,225 records

5,225 records of the Dwyer name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,067
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 1,040
  • Other Australian records 2,118
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret Dwyer

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Asia, sailing from London in 1847. Native of Dublin, Dublin. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848. Married 1848 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret Dwyer

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Martin Luther, sailing from Dublin in 1852. Native of Wexford. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 37.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Oliva Dwyer

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Chowringhee, aged 33; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5,225 records for Dwyer in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada531 records

531 records of the Dwyer name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 455
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 27
  • Other Canadian records 49
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Vincent James Dwyer

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 21; buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jos Dwyer

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Scandinav, landing at Quebec, bound for Alma, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Dwyer

    Buried in 1973 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 68.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 531 records for Dwyer in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

New Zealand63 records

63 records of the Dwyer name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 49
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 6
  • Other New Zealand records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Gladys Hopeton Dwyer

    Died 1981, aged 80; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Dwyer

    Died 1953, aged 79; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Josephine Dwyer

    Buried in 1952 at Buffalo Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 64.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 63 records for Dwyer in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom33 records

33 records of the Dwyer name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 24
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 6
  • Other British records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Maude Dwyer

    Died 1975, aged 93; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ann Dwyer

    Buried in 1851 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 28.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Dwyer

    Will proved in 1941; of Penmaenmawr, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 33 records for Dwyer in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Dwyer name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Elisabeth Joseph Florence Dwyer

    Born 1921 in Calais; died 1992 in Calais (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Christophe Dwyer

    Born 1970 in the United Kingdom; died 1991 in Notre-Dame-de-Mésage (Isère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Dwyer in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Dwyer name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Harold Dwyer

    Married in 1946 in Aalst; born 1925 in Hulme (graafschap Manchester Engeland).

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dwyer.

When the index is not enough

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