Surname Bierwerth - Meaning and Origin

Bierwerth: What does the surname Bierwerth mean?

The last name Bierwerth is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German language. It is translated to mean ‘malt worker’, as the word ‘bier’ literally translates to beer, and the word ‘werth’ translates to work.

The name originated during Medieval times, when Brewing was a necessary part of medieval life. ‘Werth’ was an occupational status at the time, referring to those who brewed and sold or traded beer for a living. As such, the surname Bierwerth likely denotes someone who was involved in the industry of brewing and trading beer from their homeland or village.

It’s possible that the surname was concentrated in specific regions of Germany and Austria since Middle High German was the official language of those countries during the Medieval era.

Interestingly, the Bierwerth surname has another meaning as well. In Westphalia, Germany, the surname is sometimes said to mean ‘fortress’, likely referring to someone whose last name was derived from a fortress.

The surnames of Bierwerth can be found in numerous countries today, including Germany, Austria, the United States, and Canada, among many other places. While the name started as an occupational name, it can also be considered a reference to a strong fortress and is still used to this day.

Bierwerth: Where does the name Bierwerth come from?

The last name Bierwerth is most commonly found in Germany and Central Europe today. The first records of the name can be traced back to the early 11th century in Alsace and German lands. In Germany, the surname is most commonly found in the south-western region, in particular in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It is believed that the name is derived from the German words ‘bier’ meaning beer and ‘werth’ meaning yard. This indicates that the name originally indicated people who owned a brewery.

The name Bierwerth has spread around the world since that time, and it can be found in the United States, Australia, South America and elsewhere in addition to Europe. In the United States, the surname is most common in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin and California, which have substantial German-American populations. Smaller concentrations can also be found in other states.

The variation ‘Bierwirth’ is also popular, particularly in Austria, Switzerland and Hungary. This surname is derived from the Austrian dialect ‘wirth’, which has the same meaning as ‘werth’ in German.

Overall, the last name Bierwerth is still common in much of Central Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria/Switzerland. It can also be found in larger numbers in the United States, however, and smaller concentrations are present elsewhere in the world.

Variations of the surname Bierwerth

The surname Bierwerth can have several variants and spellings, some of which are Bierwert, Bierwart, Bierewert, Bierewert, Biervierth, Byarwort, Byerworth, Byerwort, and Byerwart. All these surnames are derived from the German word “bierreich,” which means “rich in beer.”

The surname Bierwerth is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. In German records, the variants Bahnshire, Bährsch, and Böhrsch are found as well, the last two mainly in the regions of East and West Prussia. In the United States, variants Beerwert and Beehrwert are also found.

In handwriting during the 1700s, spellings of this name could have become unrecognizable over time. This means it may have been listed incorrectly as a result of the phonetic spelling of the name. Variants of the same origin can also be influenced by the language spoken in the region the family originated from. For example, an Eastern Germanic variant would be Böhrsch, while a Western variant would be Bährsch.

Surnames of the same origin can also manifest themselves as hyphenates. For example, some family members may have taken on the dual surnames Beehrwert-Bierwerth, or Beerwert-Bierwerth.

Overall, families by the surname Bierwerth have spread out over many countries and regions, resulting in a variety of variants and spellings of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Bierwerth

• Will Bierwerth: professional baseball player
• Kevin Bierwerth: American football player
• Larry Bierwerth: American football assistant coach
• Chris Bierwerth: former major league baseball pitcher
• Mark Bierwerth: independent politician from Wisconsin
• Chris Bierwerth: Grammy Award-nominated vocalist and guitarist
• Matthew Bierwerth: Classical and Flamenco guitar virtuoso
• Cindy Bierwerth: gourmet chef, food writer, and cooking instructor
• John Bierwerth: inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
• Robert Bierwerth: American composer, conductor, and music publisher

Other surnames

Bierwert