Surname Wörpel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wörpel: What does the surname Wörpel mean?
The last name Wörpel, also spelt Woerpel, is an unusual and uncommon German surname. It is likely derived from the Old High German term "wurpan," meaning "to throw or hurl." It suggests that the original bearer of the name developed the habit of throwing a particular type of object, such as stones or darts, for recreation.
The earliest record of the surname dates back to 1778 in the old city records of Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The name only became more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries, likely due to the industrial boom in the area. During this period, many people settled in North Rhine-Westphalia looking for opportunities.
The Wörpel surname belongs to several distinct lineages in and around the Dortmund region, most likely with their individual histories. As such, the exact origin of the surname is not fully known.
The Wörpel surname is today mostly concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, with smaller concentrations in other German and European countries. Spelling variations of the surname are common, with variants such as Wörpel, Woerpel, Wöspel, Woespel, Wösel, Wöspiel, Woespiel, and other forms.
Although the exact origin of the Wörpel surname is unknown, it is clear that the name has a long and strange history with a deep connection to North Rhine-Westphalia and the industrial era. The name is a reminder of how our ancestors lived and worked, and how our lives are shaped by history.
Order DNA origin analysisWörpel: Where does the name Wörpel come from?
The last name Wörpel is most commonly found in Germany today. A geographic analysis of surnames indicates that the name is most heavily concentrated in the Lower Saxony region of Germany, though it does appear in other parts of the country as well. According to German census records, Wörpel is the 203rd most common surname in Germany.
In the United States, the name Wörpel is much less common – it is 0.015% of the population, according to an analysis of the most recent U.S. Census results. The last name Wörpel is most common around Chicago, Illinois, and in the states of Washington and Wisconsin.
In addition to Germany and the United States, the name Wörpel is fairly common in Austria, where it ranks as the 252nd most frequent surname. The surname is also found in other European countries, such as France and Switzerland, and is especially common in Israel due to the number of German Jews who moved there in the twentieth century.
Despite its varying levels of frequency in countries around the world, the last name Wörpel is still closely associated with its German origins. Those with the last name Wörpel most likely have German ancestry, and the name will likely continue to be found primarily in German-speaking countries for years to come.
Variations of the surname Wörpel
The surname Wörpel is of German origin. Variants, spellings, and other related surnames include Worpel, Wurpel, Woerpel, Wurpala, Worpol, Worpal, and Worpill.
The original spelling of the last name Wörpel is most likely derived from the Middle High German word "wurpel" which referred to a small brook, stream or rivulet. As a result, it is assumed that the original surnames holders were settlements that were located near a small, flowing waterway.
In some cases, due to the region in which the surname was found, there may have been some misspelled form of the last name due to foreign influence. This could include different spellings of the surname, such as Woerpel, Worpel, Wurpel, Wurpala, Worpol, Worpal or Worpill. As the language has changed over the centuries, the various regional dialects could have also led to various spellings of the same surname.
Additionally, when a man moved from one area to another, his name was commonly changed slightly to reflect the different regional dialects. As such, some people who had the same original surname could end up with different surnames over time.
Overall, many different spellings and variants of the surname Wörpel can be found, but they all are ultimately derived from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Wörpel
- Mathias Wörpel, German politician
- Andreas Wörpel, Austrian ski mountaineer
- Gregor Wörpel, German ski mountaineer
- Robert Wörpel, Turn-of-the-century American Baseball Player
- Martina Wörpel, German Equestrian
- Felix Wörpel, German footballer
- Peter Wörpel, German footballer
- Gerd Wörpel, German footballer
- Arnold Wörpel, German footballer
- Ernst Wörpel, German shipbuilder
- Helmut Wörpel, German theologian
- Arthur Wörpel, German composer
- Konrad Wörpel, German voice actor
- Hildegard Wörpel, German artist
- Friedrich Wörpel, German scientist
- Christian Wörpel, German physicist
- Hans Wörpel, German television director
- Heinz Wörpel, German writer
- Siegfried Wörpel, German painter
- Helmut Wörpel, German photographer