Surname Worst - Meaning and Origin
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Worst: What does the surname Worst mean?
The last name Worst is a German and Dutch surname which originates from the Middle Low German word ‘worst’ which means ‘game’ or ‘animal bait’. It has been used as a surname since medieval times and it is often found across the northern half of the Netherlands and Germany.
The surname Worst is associated with an agricultural background and was most likely given to individuals who were involved in hunting and trapping game as either a profession or a hobby. It is possible that the surname was derived from ‘worst hunters’ and so the name would be given either to a person who hunted wild game or worked as a professional hunter.
Over time, the name Worst has evolved and there are now various spellings of this surname. In various locations across Germany, the name can be found as worstor, Worster, Wortman and Wortmann. It is believed that each spelling of the name has its own unique origin and meaning.
In modern times, the name Worst is still used in Germany and the Netherlands and it is still connected with its original agricultural background. It is also a relatively common surname in the United States, where the surname has been brought over by immigrants from across Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisWorst: Where does the name Worst come from?
The surname Worst is a fairly common and widespread modern name. It can be found predominantly in western Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands, and there are a few people with the surname Worst in the United States and other parts of the world.
The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 1750 in Germany, which could indicate a common origin for the Worst family name. Those with the surname Worst can be found predominantly living in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, but cases can also be found in the UK, Belgium, the United States, Canada, South Africa and other places.
The origin of the name might be linked to the Middle High German “Wurst” which means “sausage” or “piece of meat”, and could derive from the German name “Wurster”, which was used to describe someone who prepared and sold sausages. This is the likely origin of the name being used as a surname.
Overall, the name Worst is an illustrious and widespread wooden surname of Western European origin. It can be found in many countries today, with most people with the surname living in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. Its likely origin is linked to the German trade of making and selling sausages, and it is probably derived from the German word “Wurster”.
Variations of the surname Worst
The surname Worst is a variant of the Dutch surname Wort, the Dutch equivalent of the English surname Word. It may also be spelled as Woort, Woerd, Wördt, Wörd, Wörtz, Wört, Worgt, Wörgt, Wörk, Wörck, Weerts, Waerts, Wöts, Waarts, Waatz, or Waerz. In the Frisian language, the name is spelled as Woud, Waard, Wârd, or Waardt.
The surname Worst is also found in Germany as Wortz, Wortmann or Worte. In the Italian language, the surname is spelled as Verdi. Likewise, in the Czech language, the surname is spelled as Vorts. Variations on the surname can also be found in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Hungary, and Russia.
When the surname Worst was established in the United States, many immigrants Americanised the surname to Wort, West, or Worth. Variations on the Americanized form of the surname include Werth, Word, Wurth, Weert, Weirt, Werst, Worst, Worster, Werster, Worsten, Worthen, Worsten, Wrsten, Worn, and Wornsten.
In addition to the Germanic spelling variants, the surname Worst can also be found in the United Kingdom as Whort. Similarly, variants such as Whorton, Whortley, Weart, Waert, Wert, Wharrett, or Whortsley can also be found in the United Kingdom.
In conclusion, the surname Worst has many regional and cultural variants, meanings and spellings depending on family origins and the country in which the family originates from.
Famous people with the name Worst
- Juergen Worst: Professional golfer from Germany
- Raquel Worst: Brazilian chess grandmaster
- Michael Worst: Professional soccer player from Germany
- David Worst: German former professional ice hockey defenseman
- Meredith Worst: AFL Women's player from Australia
- Judy Worst: Professional Australian rules footballer
- Suzy Worst: Professional Australian women's basketballer
- Dave Worst: Canadian professional wrestler
- Germano Worst: Brazilian actor
- Bent Worst: Danish professional road bicycle racer