Surname Wernscheid - Meaning and Origin
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Wernscheid: What does the surname Wernscheid mean?
The last name Wernscheid (or Wernsheid) is of German origin and is thought to have originated in the area now known as Nordrhein-Westfalen. Historically, the name Wernscheid likely refers to an individual who was either caravan-driver or who came from a place near a small stream named Wernscheid. It may have also been derived from Wernscheidt, an old German term meaning “energetic” or “industrious.” It is also possible that the name may have originated as a combination of the Old German elements Viro, meaning “army,” and Skaide, meaning “band.”
Today, the last name Wernscheid is still found throughout Germany, with an particularly large concentration around the towns of Aachen and Krefeld, in North Rhine-Westphalia. Wernscheid is also a relatively common name in the United States, likely brought to the country by German settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The meaning of the name Wernscheid, then, likely has something to do with either army service or an industrious, hardworking attitude. Whether derived from a place of origin, or from a particular set of virtues, the name carries a significant, though somewhat unexpressed, significance for those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisWernscheid: Where does the name Wernscheid come from?
The last name Wernscheid is most commonly found in Germany, although it is also found in various other European regions such as Austria and Switzerland. It is an old German name derived from the personal name Wernhard, which was composed of ‘wern’, meaning ‘curiosity’, and ‘hard’, meaning ‘hardy’.
The name was also used in the Netherlands. A version was found as early as 1568 in the records of ‘Van den Worndscheiden’, meaning ‘descendants of Wernhard’. Over the centuries, the name was adopted as Werneke, Wernsman and Worner.
The name can also be found in some North American records as surnames, spelling examples varying from Werner to Wernschaedel. Records of the name can be found in census records as early as the War of 1812. Most were recorded as farmers, probably originating from the Rhine area and immigrating to the United States for work.
Today, the last name Wernscheid is most commonly found in Germany. The region of Worndschied in Cologne is also a place where the name is found in abundance.
Variations of the surname Wernscheid
The surname Wernscheid is an often-overlooked German name of locative origin. The word 'Wern' means 'European mountain' while 'scheid' means either 'clearing' or 'dividing line'. As such, Wernscheid literally means 'mountain line'.
Variants of the surname Wernscheid include Wenscheid, Wernsheid, Wirnscheid, Varnscheid, Wyrnscheid, Wirnschied, Wirschied, and many more. Some of these variants can be heard in various German speaking countries, from Alsace to Austria.
The spellings of Wernscheid also vary greatly, but there is no single correct spelling since they all retain the same fundamental 'Wern' mountain root. Variations in spelling are usually the result of regional dialects.
Surnames of the same origin as Wernscheid include Werscheid, Werschied, Wermscheid, Vierscheid, Wierscheid, Woernscheid, Widberg, and Werbs. Similarly to Wernscheid, these surnames all have the same basic 'Wern' element and are derived from the same geographical area.
Overall, the surname Wernscheid is an often-overlooked German name. Variants of the same origin are plentiful and the spellings of the surname abound. As such, Wernscheid is an interesting surname to explore, and the possible variants offer an interesting glimpse into the history of the region.
Famous people with the name Wernscheid
- John Wernscheid: German Air Force Officer; Coordinator of the NATO Tiger Meet 2018 in Poznań, Poland.
- Gunther Wernscheid: Import-export businessman from Hagen, Germany.
- Jenna Wernscheid: Professional female rock climber; active member of Petzl's "R+D Squad".
- Marla Wernscheid: Professional vocalist and actress from Minnesota.
- Jurriaan Wernscheid: Award-winning contemporary Dutch sculptor.
- Caroline Wernscheid: German political scientist and public speaker.
- Fred Wernscheid: Retired business executive, later philanthropist.
- Francis Wernscheid: Actor and director; known for his roles in theater plays and movies.
- Jeffrey Wernscheid: Professional wrestling champion from New York.
- Svetlana Wernscheid: Earth scientist; Head of the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Potsdam, Germany.