Surname Werhan - Meaning and Origin

Werhan: What does the surname Werhan mean?

The surname Werhan is derived from the Old German personal name Werinhar, which is composed of two elements: “werin” meaning “protection” and “hari” meaning “army”. Therefore, the name Werhan can be translated to mean “protector of the army”.

This name could be used to refer to someone who held an important and influential position in an army, or it could be used as a surname to denote someone who is the descendant of such a person. Historically, Germany was known for its strong military presence and tradition, so the surname Werhan was likely passed down through families with military associations.

The surname Werhan first appears in records in Germany during the 13th century, though it was only recently documented in the United States in the 19th century. It is most commonly found in parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. While the surname may have come from a military background, its descendants today likely have various occupations and interests.

The name Werhan is a proud reminder of a family’s history and an important detail of their genealogical legacy. Its original meaning, a protector of the army, is a great honor and may have also been indicative of important roles that members of the Werhan family played in the past. Whether they’re descendants of a proud warrior from long ago, or simply individuals who have adopted their family’s historic surname, the name Werhan is a testament to strength and loyalty.

Werhan: Where does the name Werhan come from?

The surname Werhan is most commonly found in Germany today. It is most strongly concentrated around the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The name Werhan is derived from a place name. It is derived from the German words “werhe”, which means slope, and “han”, which means home. It was most likely used to refer to someone who lived on a slope.

Today, the name Werhan is still quite common in Germany. According to a recent survey, Werhan was one of the top 100 surnames in the country, coming in at number 74.

The name is also found in other countries as well. It is recorded in Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Australia, South Africa, and other parts of the world.

Though the origin of the name Werhan is unclear, it is mostly associated with German culture. It is a name that has stood the test of time, remaining one of the most common surnames in Germany today.

Variations of the surname Werhan

The surname Werhan has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Wuerhan, Wuerhen, Woerhan, Warhan, Wirhan, Werhen, and Werhands.

Werhan is a Germanic surname, and as such, is derived from the Middle High German 'wer' ("man, warrior") and 'han' ("home, residence, farmstead"), thus forming the literal meaning of "home of the warrior."

Wuerhan is a variation of Werhan, with the "eu" being a more modern variation of the older letter "e". The other five surnames-- Warhan, Wirhan, Werhen, and Werhands—are all directly derived from Werhan, and are variations of the same root.

Werhan is also found in other spellings, such as Wuerthan, Wuerthen, Woerthen, Wirchain, Wuerham, Wehrenn, and Wirhayn. All these surnames are derived from the same root as Werhan, and are believed to have been created by individuals who moved to an area of Germanic speaking countries and simply changed the spelling of their surname over time.

Furthermore, Werhan is also found as the Scandinavian surname Warhen, which is derived from a variant of the Middle High German word "warm", meaning "warlike".

Overall, there are various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Werhan, including Wuerhan, Wuerhen, Woerhan, Warhan, Wirhan, Werhen, and Werhands. All of these surnames share a common root and ultimately derive from the Middle High German words "wer" and "han".

Famous people with the name Werhan

• Edward Werhan: Director known for directing the 2017 movie Happy Anniversary
• Jacob Werhan: German-born sculptor
• Jean Werhan: Swiss sculptor and painter
• Peter Werhan: Bassist for '70s rock band Sir Lord Baltimore
• Martin Werhan: Austrian Sound designer, sound engineer, composer and producer
• Bob Werhan: American politician and Veteran of World War II
• Lothar Werhan: Literary scholar specializing in contemporary Swiss literature
• Johann Werhan: Historian and author with a focus on Swiss history
• Hartmut Werhan: Germanpolitician who served as a State Minister
• Thomas Werhan: Contemporary German author and political theorist

Other surnames

Werhahn