Surname Werz - Meaning and Origin
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Werz: What does the surname Werz mean?
The last name Werz is of German origin and comes from the German word “wer” which means “defender”. This indicates that the ancestors of this surname had some type of connection to military service. It also suggests that the roots of this surname are found in medieval Germany, where the Werz family was likely involved in defense and protection.
Additionally, the surname Werz may be derived from Old High German words such as “werah” meaning “combatant”, or “wirtz” meaning “guardian”. This reinforces the idea that the Werz surname has its origins in protection and defense.
This suggests that the ancestors of this family were likely warriors of some kind, perhaps in the form of a soldier, protector or bodyguard. Some suggest that the Werz family likely originated in the Middle Rhine region of Germany.
The Werz family is quite a rare and unique surname, so it’s not known how widespread the name is. It may have multiple variants such as “Wert”, “Wertz” and “Wirtz”, but the exact origin and meaning of the Werz surname remains a mystery.
Order DNA origin analysisWerz: Where does the name Werz come from?
The last name Werz is most commonly found in the country of Germany today. It is among the top 500 most common surnames within Germany and is found primarily in the western and southern parts of the country. The highest concentrations of people with the Werz surname can be found in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The name is thought to be of Germanic origin and derived from the personal name “Werezzo”, or “Verst” which refers to a leader or ruler. With that in mind, it is thought that the Werz surname was first used by a noble family with a “verst” as its leader or ruler.
Aside from Germany, the Werz surname is also found in other European countries as well. These countries include Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, as well as a presence in the United States and Canada. This surname has been in existence since at least the 16th century and is still common today in the countries listed above.
Variations of the surname Werz
The surname Werz is derived from several sources and has various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. These include Voorz, Werth, Wirt, Werch, Wirtz, Wurt, Wurth, Werdz, Varz, Verz, Vaarz, Wehrz, Wehrsel, Wehrs, Wehrt, Werde, Werd, De Werd, Werzer and Wersch.
Werz is a name of Germanic origin and as such has multiple Dutch versions. The Voorz variant originates from the Low German noun ‘vor’, which means ‘edge’ or ‘limit’ and denotes someone who lived near a marked boundary or was from a frontier dwelling. The Werth variant is derived from the German noun ‘Wert’, which implies worth or value, and suggests a person was of honourable stature or had some kind of significant social position in the community.
The Wirt, Wirtz, Wurt, and Wurth variants all describe a tavern or innkeeper. In Old Germanic, the word 'wirt' was synonymous for 'host of a meal', which distinguished those who supplied food and drink to the community.
Werdz and De Werd are both derived from the medieval German word ‘werden’, which means ‘to become’. This probably relates to a person or a family that was known for reproducing in large numbers. The Werde variant is similar but derived from the German word ‘werden’, which means ‘to endure’ and implies a respected family or clan that survived various tribulations.
Wehrz, Wehrsel, Wehrs, and Wehrt variants all imply an armorer, or maker of weapons, such as swords and shields.
Finally, the Varz, Verz and Vaarz variants are also of German origin. The ‘varz’ variant in particular is derived from the Old German word ‘barzu’, meaning ‘ready’ or ‘prepared’. This implies a readiness for battle or a preparedness to defend one’s kin.
In all, Werz has numerous spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin that span multiple languages and generations.
Famous people with the name Werz
- Alex Werz: German tennis player
- Asya Werz: Israeli artist
- David Werz: American historian and author
- Eric Werz: American film producer and director
- Jake Werz: American video game producer
- John Werz: American business executive
- Mark Werz: American soccer player
- Max Werz: German politician
- Nils Werz: German footballer
- Peter Werz: German architect
- Robert Werz: German political thinker and economist
- Steven Werz: American film and television executive
- Thomas Werz: German film director
- Wendell Werz: American documentary filmmaker