Surname Weerlie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Weerlie: What does the surname Weerlie mean?
The last name Weerlie is of Dutch origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name, “Werli”. The personal name is derived from the element “wer”, meaning “ defence” or “protection”. Weerlie is an occupational name originally given to a military leader or someone who held a military position. In the Middle Ages, along the Rhine River, a “weiher” was an officer in command of a small regiment, thus from this, the term “Weerlie” was developed.
More recently, the name Weerlie has been used as a name denoting a person of high moral standing in a local community. This could be someone in a family who was celebrated as a leader in their local community, such as a church elder, a head of the village council or someone of similar status.
The surname Weerlie is quite rare, and has not been found in any other parts of the world. While not part of common usage, there is still significance in the name, as it is a reminder of an ancestor’s important position and leadership skills in their local area. It is also a reminder that those who held the title “Weerlie” were bound by a sense of moral responsibility to their communities.
Order DNA origin analysisWeerlie: Where does the name Weerlie come from?
The last name Weerlie is believed to have originated in Germany or the Netherlands. It is most prevalent today in those same areas. In Germany, Weerlie is mostly concentrated in the northeastern part near the coast, particularly in the states of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Lower Saxony. In the Netherlands, it is most common in Gelderland, Overijsel, and Utrecht.
Today, according to the Netherlands' Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie, 288 people have the Weerlie surname. The variant form of the name, Weirle, is similarly common. In Germany, it is estimated that approximately 2,500 people have the surname Weerlie.
The name translates as "protecting ruler" in old German and could denote someone of high social status at the time it was adopted.
Finding more information on the last name Weerlie is difficult. However, some online genealogy databases, such as Geneanet, offer tools to search for information about this surname. Additionally, some universities offer genealogy classes that may be helpful in tracing the origin of the name Weerlie.
Variations of the surname Weerlie
Weerlie is an uncommon surname, most likely of Dutch origin. Dutch surnames generally follow the patronymic system, and so the variants of Weerlie are derived from the first name that this surname is taken from. Common variants of Weerlie include Werle, Werley, Werlei, Werli, Werly, Wuerle, and Wuerrlei.
Weerlie is a spelling derived from the Old High German origin of the name, Werala, which means ‘guardian’, so spellings which mimic this Old High German language are also found. These include Werle, Weral, Weralt, Weralde, and Weraldey.
Variations of the surname Weerlie can also be found among Dutch-speaking countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Alternative spelling in different languages variation includes Verle, Verley, Verlei, Verly, Verli, Wurle, and Woerlei.
Weerlie is likely derived from the Germanic ‘weri’, meaning ‘defence, protection’, and so, the surname was likely given to someone who was particularly good at defending a position or location. Therefore, some surnames of similar meanings can also be found, such as Verel, Uerel, and Werrel.
Apart from the above-mentioned variants, surnames of similar sounds or having similar meanings may also exist. Some of these include Ferley, Furlie, and Verrell.
Famous people with the name Weerlie
- Gijs Weerlie: A professional professional alpine skier from the Netherlands.
- Yvonne Weerlie: Film producer and director from the Netherlands.
- Sam Weerlie: Nobel Memorial Prize laureate in economics.
- Percy Weerlie: Dutch television presenter.
- Emma Weerlie: Dutch sculptor and installation artist.
- Olga Weerlie: Dutch painter and multimedia artist.
- Johan Weerlie: Dutch businessman and CEO of HEMA, a retail chain.
- Frank Weerlie: Dutch-American architect.
- Nicole Weerlie: Dutch conservationist and environmental activist.
- Jenny Weerlie: Dutch model and actress.