Surname Merwerth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Merwerth: What does the surname Merwerth mean?
The last name Merwerth is of German origin, with early examples of the surname, such as “Elizabeth Merwerth” appearing in the archives from the 1400s. The name has a variety of interpretations, with two being the most common.
The first interpretation is derived from the old German word “mar”, which translates to “horse”, and “werth” which translates to “power”. So, in this version, Merwerth is thought to mean “power of the horse”. This could have been an attribute associated with a warrior or horseman, to symbolize their strength.
The second interpretation is from “meric” which translates to “border” and “werth”, which, as mentioned previously, translates to “power”. So for this interpretation, Merwerth stands for “power of the border”. This could have indicated the holder of the name was someone powerful who owned or controlled a border or boundary.
Though the exact meaning is difficult to pinpoint, what is certain is that the name Merwerth holds a proud and significant past in German culture, as well as a story to be interpreted by each succeeding generation.
Order DNA origin analysisMerwerth: Where does the name Merwerth come from?
The last name Merwerth is most commonly found in Germany today. According to records, this German last name can be found in the state of Bavaria primarily. Some evidence indicates possible migration from Austria to what is present-day Germany for this surname.
The earliest known record of the name Merwerth appears in 1356 in Arthun a village in the county of Isenhagen near the northern border of Germany. The archives show this family was a part of the local governing councils of the area. Over the centuries, this family has spread out to other areas in Germany such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Baden-Wurttemberg.
Today, this name continues to be quite common in Germany. It is seen most frequently in the southern part of the country. Several resources indicate one of the top three places to find people with last name Merwerth is in Munich in the state of Bavaria followed by Berlin. It is also found in many smaller communities throughout Germany.
Not only is this surname still found in Germany, but Merwerth is also a somewhat common surname in the United States as well. In the United States, the highest concentrations of this name can be found in the midwest such as Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. People bearing this name in the United States are also likely descendants of German immigrants. The name Merwerth is thus still quite common today, both in Germany and in the United States.
Variations of the surname Merwerth
The surname Merwerth is a German-based surname which originates from the town of Mertweiler located in Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany. It is thought to have been derived from an old German word "mertwilare", which can be translated as "guardian of the marsh". The most common variants and alternate spellings of the name Merwerth include Merwert, Merwit, Merwitt, Merweth, Mirtweiler and Mirtwile.
In many cases, the Merwerth surname is found spelled as Merwyth in Welsh records, as Merright in England and as Merwirth in the United States. Other surnames of similar origin include Mertwiler, Merth, Merthweiler and Mertinhweiler.
In some cases, Merwerth is found as a variant of the more common surname Marwert, which is also a German-based surname. Marwert is believed to have originated from the small village of Marwerth which was located in the Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany. The most common variants and alternate spellings of the surname Marwert include Marwart, Marwerts and Marwirt.
There have also been cases where Merwerth is found as a variant of the more common surname Merkle, which is a German-based surname originating from the Greater German Earldom of Merkle in Swabia. The most common variants and alternate spellings of the Merkle surname include Merkel, Merckel, Mörkel and Mörkelle.
Famous people with the name Merwerth
- Hilmar Merwert, German painter and draftsman.
- Vincenz Merwert, German clarinettist and composer.
- Antoinette Merwert, German pianist, conductor, teacher and composer.
- Johann Anthon Merwert, German painter and draughtsman.
- Zigmund Merwert, Polish pianist, organist and composer.
- Friedrich Merwert, German classical piano teacher and composer.
- G Hauptmann Merwert, German legal professor of the 19th century.
- Johann Christian Merwert, German physicist and mathematician.
- Henry Merwert, American minister and author of the 19th century.
- Tadeusz Merwert, Polish Roman Catholic prelate and Archbishop.