Surname Woehrl - Meaning and Origin

Woehrl: What does the surname Woehrl mean?

The last name Woehrl is of German origin and is derived from the Middle German word "würl," which was used to refer to an enclosure of land or a burial ground. This is derived from the word "wur," which means "wall." The earliest recorded instance of the last name Woehrl is from Proksch Wöhrl, who is listed in an old German document from the year 1495.

The historical significance of this last name lies in the fact that it was often used to designate a place, a small settlement or a field. Individuals who used the name Woehrl were typically landowners and farmers in Germany.

Today, Woehrl is a common last name in Germany and it has spread to other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Individuals with this last name are likely to be of German descent.

In terms of modern associations with the last name Woehrl, some notable individuals have been associated with it, such as Theodor Wöhrl, the multimillionaire German businessman and General Major Oskar Wöhrl, the German World War II veteran.

In conclusion, the last name Woehrl is a German surname with a historical and cultural meaning. It was used to designate a place or small settlement and is now a common name in Germany and other countries around the world. Prominent people with the name Woehrl have included businessmen and war veterans.

Woehrl: Where does the name Woehrl come from?

The last name Woehrl is most commonly found in Germany today. While many of its variants spread across Europe, from Sweden and Holland to Denmark and France, Germany is home to the highest concentration of persons carrying this surname. The name is mainly concentrated in southern Germany in the region of Bavaria. Here, the name can be found in various different spellings, such as Woerl, Wörl, Wörle, and Wahrl, among others.

This last name is derived from the German word würfel, meaning "cube." It is theorized that the name was adopted by someone who either had a prominent facial feature, such as a square jaw, or was at one point a cube maker or a dice maker. It is likely that those with the last name Woehrl were related to those associated with the craft of making dice or wagons.

According to the 2019 census in Germany, approximately 10,000 people have the last name Woehrl. Cologne in Bavaria has the most people with this last name. Additionally, Munich is home to a significant number of Woehrl families. A few Woehrl households can be found across the United States, primarily in Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York.

In today's Germany, many Woehrl families run grocery stores, own farms, and operate wineries. Some have also gone into entrepreneurial businesses, such as beekeeping, butchering, and engineering. There is also a small minority that is employed in law, finance, and other white-collar professions. Various Woehrl family members have also contributed to the German wine and beer scene as well as to the academic scene in Germany.

Variations of the surname Woehrl

The surname Woehrl has multiple spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. These include Wohrl, Woerl, Woerhl, Woerle, Wehrl, Wuerl, Wuerhl, Wuerle and Werl.

The name Woehrl is likely derived from the Germanic and Old High German first name Warin, which is a derivative of "wer", meaning a man or warrior. This name has its roots in the Middle High German word werren, meaning to protect and defend.

The variants such as Wohrl and Woerl are derived from the old northern German name Wohr, which roughly translates to "guarding". This may be a reference to a person who protected an area in one way or another, such as a guard or soldier.

The variant Woerle is also derived from the old northern German name Wohr, but is a more extended form and could likely be a combination of the first part of the old German name end with the German and Dutch suffix -le.

The spelling variants Wuerl and Wuerhl are derived from the German word Wohr and was primarily used in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Variant Wuerle may also be derived from the Wohr spelling and carries the same connotations.

The surname Wehrl is a Bavarian variant of Woehrl that has a similar derivation. The original spelling of this surname is Wöhrl, which appeared in monastic records from the region from the 15th century.

No matter how it is spelled, the surname Woehrl brings to mind a sense of strength and power, referencing both warriors and guards.

Famous people with the name Woehrl

• Kay Woehrl: German politician, serving the Christian Democratic Union.
• Florian Woehrl: Professional racing driver and coach from Germany.
• Heinrich Woehrl: German entrepreneur and founder of the Wöhrl Filialen & Logistik GmbH.
• Annemarie Woehrl: German businesswoman and managing director of the Woehrl Group.
• Michael Woehrl: German actor, known for his leading roles in the films Fallen and Zeit der Sehnsucht.
• Patrick Woehrl: German tennis player, competing in ITF tournaments.
• Robert Woehrl: German historian and professor emeritus at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich.
• Elise Woehrl: German film and theatre actress.
• Gianluca Woehrl: German footballer currently playing as a Midfielder for FC Union Berlin.
• Frank Woehrl: German football player and coach most known for his role as Manager of FC Bayern Munich U19 Team.

Other surnames

Woehrmann