Surname Werr - Meaning and Origin
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Werr: What does the surname Werr mean?
The last name Werr is believed to be of Germanic origin. It most likely originated from a topographic or surname used to denote a person from a marshy or wet place. Early records of the name Werr indicate that it was first used as a surname in the mid 16th century, and is derived from the Low German ‘warer’, meaning ‘shoulder of land near water’.
The Werr surname was most prevalent in Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. The earliest known records of the surname appear in many different forms, translating to ‘Warrer’, ‘Werrer’, ‘Warrer’, and ‘Warring’.
In the United States, Werr has been recorded since the late 1700s, as settlers and immigrants ventured to the country from Europe in search of religious and economic freedoms.
To present day, Werr is a relatively uncommon surname throughout the world, found most mainly in Germany, Austria, and the United States. Werr families can be traced through records of marriages, births, deaths, and immigration. There are some public records that list the Werr surname, such as the WWI German Draft Registration Cards of 1918, as well as the U.S. Census Records and Social Security Death Index from 1940-2006. Collectively, these records provide a valuable insight into the historical ancestry of the Werr family.
Order DNA origin analysisWerr: Where does the name Werr come from?
The last name Werr is most commonly found in Germany. It is a patronymic surname derived from a Germanic personal name beginning with “Wer-” which belonged to an ancestor of the bearer of the name. This type of surname is most common among families who have Germanic roots.
It appears that the surname Werr has been around since at least the Middle Ages, as it can be found in documents from that time. It is primarily found in the German states of Lower Saxony and Bavaria, which are located in the southern part of the country. Other areas in which the name is commonly found today include Austria, the Netherlands, and parts of the United States such as Wisconsin, Ohio, and Kansas.
In addition, the surname Werr can also be found in places with large German-speaking populations, including many regions of Canada and many areas in the United States that are home to people of German descent. The name is also present in informal German-speaking circles in other countries, such as those in South America and Australia.
Overall, the last name Werr is prevalent in many parts of the world, particularly in places with close ties to Germany and the German language. While it is not a particularly common name in comparison to more widespread names, it is nonetheless widely distributed.
Variations of the surname Werr
The surname Werr is an anglicized variant of the Low German surname Werre. Spellings of the surname have evolved across generations and geographical borders. In some cases, the surname has changed to Werr, Werrle, Wearing, Wearinge, Werrlich, Werl, Werle, Werly, Werlick, Werling, Werlinger, Werlicks, Worle, Worel, Worrell, Worrells and Worelly. In the 19th Century, the surname Werre was particularly common in Northern Germany and the Low Countries.
In Central Europe, the surname is found mainly in Poland and throughout the Czech Republic as Werr, Werski, Weron, Weronka, Werszczyk, Werschke and Werszko. The surname is also common in France as the variants Vere, Verry, Vernet, Wernet, Jaure, and Jaurey.
In Norway and Sweden, the surname Werre is found mainly as Werr and Werring. In the USA and Ireland, the surname is most commonly seen as Warren. Variations of the surname have also been found in Baltic regions such as Lithuania and Latvia, as Werre and Werri. More recent examples of the surname can be found as Werre or Werry in the UK.
The patronageymic root of the surname Werre is the German given name Were, derived from the Old German word Werr which means 'fighter' or 'warrior'. This origin has been linked to the Middle Low German origin of the surname Werr meaning 'imitate'. It is believed that the surname is derived from pet forms of either Ger (Old German for 'spear') or the given name Gero (Old High German for 'strong').
In conclusion, the surname Werr has many varied spellings, variants and surnames of same origin. It is a patronageymic surname that is believed to have multiple different root origins. The surname is most common in Northern Europe, although it can also be found across other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Werr
- Zoe Werr: She is a singer-songwriter from the Netherlands, whose music blends elements of pop and folk.
- Jeffrey Werr: He is an American engineer and professor at the University of Arkansas.
- Nancy Werr: She is a German television and movie actress.
- Myrna Werr: She is an American author and photographer.
- Hayley Werr: She is an Australian cyclist and mountain biker.
- Ethan Werr:He is an American high school basketball standout from Tacoma, Washington.
- Jenna Werr- She is an English actor who has appeared in several television series and movies.
- Janet Werr: She is a former American flight attendant and an author of two books.
- Paul Werr: He is a professional chess player from Canada.
- Mark Werr: He is a composer from France whose works blend jazz, classical and electronic music.