Surname Wöhrner - Meaning and Origin
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Wöhrner: What does the surname Wöhrner mean?
The last name Wöhrner is a German surname that has its origins in the Middle High German language. It is derived from the word "werner" which translates to "warrior". This surname is indicative of a certain occupational area within the German people.
The Wöhrner surname can be found to be associated with various medieval locations throughout present day Germany, where the family could have been found as early as the 15th century. It is often associated with regions such as Franconia, Bavaria, and Pomerania.
Historically, persons of the Wöhrner surname were likely warriors, tradesmen, knights, or even landlords. Those known by the name may have served as mercenary soldiers for various kingdoms throughout the course of the Middle Ages. The surname might even be found associated with noble families, as members of the Wöhrner family were once prominent within the European noble class.
Today, the Wöhrner surname is not as common as it once was in Germany. Still, it can be found in many parts of Europe, indicative of its rich and varied history. For those hailing from a Wöhrner lineage, it is a legacy to be both proud of and curious about.
Order DNA origin analysisWöhrner: Where does the name Wöhrner come from?
The last name Wöhrner is primarily associated with present-day Germany, as well as other parts of German-speaking Europe. In Germany, the Wöhrner surname is widespread, including in populous German states such as Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg.
In addition to Germany, the name Wöhrner can be found in neighbouring countries throughout Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The surname is also found in small numbers in other parts of the world bearing a German diaspora, particularly North America, Brazil, Korea, and Argentina.
Within Germany, the highest concentration of people with Wöhrner as a last name are found in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, especially throughout rural villages surrounding Würzburg, Stuttgart, and Bielefeld. In Bavaria, the Wöhrner surname is the 595th most common.
As a German-derived surname, Wöhrner is believed to be an occupational name indicating a blacksmith. It is also thought to have been a nickname associated with people who have a slow and calm nature.
As a result of the German diaspora, people with the surname Wöhrner have spread to all corners of the globe. Due to the commonality of the name in its homeland, those with this surname are asked to trace their ancestry to determine the origin of their own family name.
Variations of the surname Wöhrner
The surname Wöhrner is a German surname, as indicated by the umlaut (two small dots above the letter "o"). It is most commonly spelled Woehrner, but there are several alternative spellings and variants, including Wohrner, Woerner, Wohner and Woernar. Generally, all of these spellings share the same meaning and origin.
The origin of the name Wöhrner is believed to come from, or be related to, the German word wohren which means "to encamp." It is thought that the name could have originated as a toponym, position or occupation name descriptive of people who lived in such an area or nest.
The name is also believed to be derived from the combination of the words `wohr` (protection or defense) and `ner `(friend), thus meaning "Protected Friend".
Other variants of the surname include Wohrn, Wohrne, Worrne, Woernea, Wörne, Wörn and Waerner. The surname is also found in the U.S., but is mostly found among immigrants or their descendants who have retained the spelling.
Additionally, some anglicized versions of the name, like Woren, Worner and Wouren, can be seen in some parts of the Americas.
In some cases, the surname Woehrner has been shortened to the phonetically similar yet distinct surnames Woener, Wehner, Weine and Wien.
Finally, other less common surnames like Wohern, Woherr and Woerhner can also be found.
Famous people with the name Wöhrner
- Alexander Wöhrner: German designer, art director, and founder of Design Assignment Berlin.
- Chris Wöhrner: German athlete, winner of 2016 European Cup Sport Climbing.
- David Wöhrner: German Olympic athlete, winner of the 2011 European 400m title.
- Hugo Wöhrner: German film and television actor best known for appearing in the TV series Freunde fürs Leben.
- Jennifer Wöhrner: German rhythmic gymnast, 10-times German champion and 2004 Olympian.
- Julius Wöhrner: German international footballer who played for the Germany national team in the 1932 Summer Olympic Games.
- Karl Wohrner: German inventor and engineer, credited with developing the first electric iron and the first electric hair curler, among other inventions.
- Lutz Wöhrner: German footballer who played for Karlsruher SC and spent four seasons in the Bundesliga in the 1990s.
- Nadine Wöhrner: German politician, Member of the European Parliament since 2014.
- Nicolas Wöhrner: German music producer, best known for producing the 2004 album Vogelfrei by the punk rock band Die Ärzte.