Surname Werly - Meaning and Origin
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Werly: What does the surname Werly mean?
The last name Werly is an occupational last name of German origin derived from the word “werle” which denotes the occupation of a field manager or county administrator. This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was a member of the petty nobility in medieval Germany. The name Werly could also be derived from the Old German word “werlei” meaning “the territory of a field manager or county administrator”.
The surname Werly is a relatively uncommon one, thought to be most numerous in the United States as well as in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This name is documented to have been present in the United States since the eighteenth century, when immigrants carrying the surname Werly arrived on the eastern coast of the country.
It is likely that the bearers of the surname Werly were part of the German upper-middle class, given that professional names tend to be a sign of elevated social status. While some bearers probably arrived in America in search of a better life, others may have stayed in Germany and increased their land holdings and power over time.
Whichever way the surname Werly developed, it remains a Social Research name that evokes some of the heritage of medieval Germany. To this day, the name still carries a certain prestige and is a testament to the bearers’ hard work and success.
Order DNA origin analysisWerly: Where does the name Werly come from?
The surname Werly is most commonly found in the United States. According to the 2020 US Census, there are a total of 946 people with this surname in the US. The majority of those with the surname live in the Midwest states including Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Indiana. The surname is also present in smaller numbers in other states such as Texas, Illinois, California, and Oklahoma.
Internationaly, Werly is less common. It is mostly found in South America, particularly the countries of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Uruguay. There are also pockets of Werlys in Germany, and France.
The Werly name is thought to be derived from German or Dutch origins. The meaning of the name is unclear, however due to the frequency of the name in Germany, it is likely the surname is derived from a smaller German-speaking town.
The consensus among genealogists is that the Werly family can trace its roots to the middle ages. There are references to the name Werly centuries ago in German records and the name was given to German immigrants to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Regardless of the origin, it is certain that the name Werly is found mainly in the United States today, but not uncommon in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Werly
The surname Werly is of Germanic origin, and according to an article published by Family Tree DNA, it is derived from the old Germanic personal name "Warin". Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Varley, Warly, Warley, Varly, Warlin, Warling, Warin, Werlin, Wherley, Wherlin, Wherling, Wherlin, Warrington, Wordle, Werdelin, Werden, Wirtin, Wyrtle, and Wythe.
The Warly spelling is the most common variation of the surname Werly. After its Germanic beginnings, the Warly spelling spread to England and then to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the US, most families bearing this name are descended from English colonists who arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Variations of the Warly surname include Varley, Warley, and Varly, all of which are common in the UK. In Australia, common spellings include Warling, Warin, and Werlin. In Canada, Werly is often found spelled Wherley, Wherlin, and Wherling.
The Warin spelling of the surname dates back to medieval times and is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the US, the Wordle, Werdelin, Werden, Wirtin, Wyrtle, and Wythe spellings are all found.
In summary, the surname Werly has numerous variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Varley, Warly, Warley, Varly, Warlin, Warling, Warin, Werlin, Wherley, Wherlin, Wherling, Wherlin, Warrington, Wordle, Werdelin, Werden, Wirtin, Wyrtle, and Wythe. The most common variation of the surname is Warly, which is found in many countries around the world, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Werly
- Johnny Werly, American musician and rock n’ roll pioneer
- Jacques Werly, French sculptor
- Iwan Werly, Swiss violinist
- Pi Werly, British race car driver
- Francis Werly, Swiss opera tenor
- Henry Werly, American children’s author
- Mathilde Werly, Belgian surrealist painter
- Anthony Werly, American jurist
- Alycia Werly, Australian actress
- David Werly, German documentary filmmaker