Surname Wörnlein - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wörnlein: What does the surname Wörnlein mean?
The last name Wörnlein is a German surname, deriving from the Middle High German term wurmelin, which means “small worm”. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was thought to resemble a worm, such as one who was small, thin, and wriggly. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational name for a tailor, since the thread used in tailoring was sometimes referred to as wurm.
Over time, the name has become slightly modified, and variations have evolved. In some cases, the “Ö” has been dropped, leading to surnames such as Wornlein, Wornerlein, and Woernerlein. These names have become somewhat hard to distinguish from similar-sounding German names such as Wörner, Worn, and Worna.
Today, the Wörnleins trace their ancestry back to southwestern Germany, mainly to the region known as Franconia, where the name is said to have been introduced in the 16th century. Since the name originated as a nickname, it has several different spellings, each representing the same family.
Despite the fact that Wörnlein now refers to a specific family, it remains plausible that the origin of the name could still have different interpretations and meanings. The small worm nickname could refer to someone’s physical characteristics, occupation, or an amusing hobby – the possibilities are many and varied. The Wörnlein name has stood the test of time, and continues to share the story of a long-standing family from the Franconian region.
Order DNA origin analysisWörnlein: Where does the name Wörnlein come from?
The surname Wörnlein is most commonly found in Germany today. Originally from the Lower Bavarian region of Süddeutschland, Wörnlein hail from what was once the Electorate of Bavaria, an independent electorate of the Holy Roman Empire.
The largest concentrations of Wörnlein can be found in the Bavarian cities of Munich, Regensburg, and Passau. In fact, the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg host nearly half of all Wörnleins in Germany.
Immigration has spread the Wörnlein name further throughout Germany, with records dating back to the early 1600s. As early as the 1600s, Wörnleins were listed as members of the bourgeoisie in Prussia. The earliest records of Wörnleins in America can be found in 1750, when Johann Wörnlein, aged 6, arrived in Philadelphia with his parents.
Today, Wörnleins live all across Germany, as well as in other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Through immigration, the Wörnlein name can still be found far afield, especially in heavily German-populated cities, such as Philadelphia, Dallas, Baltimore and Cincinnati.
Despite their widespread locations, Wörnleins around the world can trace their shared heritage back to the Bavarian region of Germany. In this way, the legacy of this German surname is kept alive and passed down through generations.
Variations of the surname Wörnlein
Wörnlein is a German surname that is derived from the old-German word “werne” meaning “to wrap.” This surname is the root of many other variants and spellings.
First, there are the original variations of the name. These include: Worlein, Wörlein, Wohrlein, Woehrlein, Woehrlin, Worrlin, and Wohlrab.
Alternate versions of Wörnlein include: Worling, Wohrling, Woehrling, Wohlrab, Wöhrle, and Woerlein.
In Dutch, Wörnlein is spelled Woerlee, and in German variants spelled Wörl or Worl are found.
The surnames Wörnlein and Wöhrlin can be found in the Netherlands, and Vörländer and Wohrrlin in Switzerland.
Other variants have been found in Czechoslovakia and Poland with the spellings Wornlein, Wornla, Vornla, and Wornlen.
In the United States the surname Wörnlein is primarily spelled Worlein. Other variants are Rankin, Rankine, and Rankeen.
Early American spellings of the name include Warnlein and Wernerlin.
The other Belgian variants include the spellings Wornlein, Wornlen, Wörnelen, Wornelen, Schnaster, Schanast, Schene, and Vörnele.
In conclusion, Wörnlein is the original form of the surname and there are many variants and spellings such as Worlein, Wöhrlin, Woerlee, Worling, Woehrling, Wohrrlin, Wernley, Rankin, Rankine, Rankeen, Warnlein, Wornlein, Wornlen, and many more. These surnames have a common origin and many are still in use today.
Famous people with the name Wörnlein
- Dominic Wörnlein: a German conductor and cellist, who currently serves as the principal conductor of the Staatsoper Hannover opera house as well as principal guest conductor of the Staatsorchester Braunschweig.
- Matthias Wörnlein: a German bass-baritone singer, who has an active international career, performing in both opera and concert.
- André Wörnlein: a German organist, conductor and composer, who currently serves as the artistic director and conductor of the Basler Kammerorchester.
- Rainer Wörnlein: a German musicologist, composer, and educator, who has served as the director of the Institute of Musicology at the University of Freiburg since 2001.
- Peter Wörnlein: a German organist, harpsichordist and composer, who has performed in a wide variety of styles, from renaissance music to contemporary works.
- Michael Wörnlein: an Austrian bass-baritone, who held the position of principal bass-baritone at the Vienna State Opera for many years.
- Jean-Louis Wörnlein: a French violinist, who has served as professor of violin at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris since 2003.
- Ingo Wörnlein: a German conductor, who is professor at the music department of Hamburg University and music director of the Hansa-Haydn Orchestra in Bremen.
- Christian Wörnlein: a German composer, who has written a variety of works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir and voice.
- Anne Wörnlein: a German mezzo-soprano, who has had a successful international career, performing in a wide variety of operas, oratorios and concerts.