Surname Werndl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Werndl: What does the surname Werndl mean?
The surname Werndl is of German origin and is derived from Middle High German 'werendel' meaning "guardian angel, protector”. The name is most often found in southern Germany and Austria. It is believed to have originated from a peasant family of the same name, who were its first recorded bearers.
The surname Werndl is the surname of numerous people, both past and present, both famous and not so famous. This includes one of the founders and major figures behind the Austrian firearms company, ‘Werndl and Company’, which developed and produced some of the world's finest rifles and carbines of its time during the 1850s-1880s. The family is also associated with the Wal Mart retail empire through descendants of this family.
The overall meaning of the surname Werndl is one of protection, as its etymological root suggests. Those who carry this surname are likely to be seen as the guardians of their families and community. They are likely to be respected due to this protective nature, as well as due to their strong business and entrepreneurial values. They can also be seen as financially secure, with a head for business and management.
Order DNA origin analysisWerndl: Where does the name Werndl come from?
The last name Werndl is a surname found primarily in Austria and parts of Germany. It is derived from the German word "wenden", which means "to turn". The Werndl surname is found predominantly in Austria, where it is the 828th most common surname. In Germany, the frequency of Werndl is much lower, with the surname being the 5,590th most popular surname. The surname is also found in the United States, albeit it is less prevalent than in Europe. In the US, Werndl is the 21,063rd most common surname.
The origin of the Werndl surname is disputed, but it is generally believed to have first arisen hundreds of years ago in either Germany or Austria. It is possible that the name was from a place where people "turned" or rotated the land for farming purposes. In Bavaria, Germany, the Werndl family originated from the village of Oberweiling, which may have been the origin of the surname.
The Werndl surname is rarely found outside of Europe and the United States. It is not particularly common in other parts of the world, although some variant spellings of the surname may exist, such as Wernl or Varnel. Nonetheless, the Werndl surname remains prevalent in Austria and parts of Germany, and the United States, accounting for more than 4,000 people with the surname living in those countries today.
Variations of the surname Werndl
The surname Werndl is of German origin and has been recorded since the 12th century. It is derived from the given name Wendel, which is composed of the Germanic elements 'wendan' (to turn or to change) and 'wald' (rule). The variant spellings of the surname Werndl include Wendl, Wendel, Verdle, Vrendl, Wrentel, Vrendal, Weyndel, Vendl, Wertel, Verndl, Vernle, Verndel and Warnel.
It became popularized in Germany throughout the centuries. Later, in the 18th century it began to spread across the whole of Europe and beyond. In the United States, the most common spelling is Wendel. This name is pronounced in two ways: 'VEH-ndul' and 'WAIR-ndul.' In Austria, the most common spelling is Vrendl.
The surname Werndl has been variously used as a first name or a surname, thus creating various other surnames such as Wendeler, Wendelsbanner, Wendelstadt, Werndlmayer, Wendelstein, Wendelin, Verdeling, Wrendling, Wrentelhug, and Wendelmuth.
The surname Werndl has also been used to create many variations in spelling, such as Verndelen, Vernede, Werndell, Verneel, Wrentell, Wrentelen, Wendelmaier, Vrentel, Wendelsbauers, and Wendellensheini.
Today, the surname Werndl is still popular across the world. People of this name can be found throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Werndl
- Auguste Werndl (1832–1889), Austrian firearms and ammunition maker
- John Werndl (1859–1924), American businessman and founder of the company that would become the Remington Arms Company
- Johann Werndl (1878–1933), Austrian rifle maker and a co-founder of the Steyr Mannlicher arms company
- Christian Werndl (born 1982), Austrian luger
- Andreas Werndl (born 1969), Austrian luger
- Johann Haidinger (1795–1871), Austrian mineralogist, born Johann Werndl
- Johann Baptist Werndl (1832–1912), Austrian politician and Mayor of Graz
- Maria Werndl (born 1975), Austrian chess master
- Johann Haidinger (1795–1871), Austrian mineralogist, born Johann Werndl
- Bernd Werndl (born 1953), Austrian author, poet and spiritual teacher