Surname Wörthner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wörthner: What does the surname Wörthner mean?
The last name Wörthner is derived from the German noun “Werk” or “Werkzeug”, which can mean “tool” or “machine”. Derivatives of this root word were used to refer to someone who owned, operated or worked with a machine or tool. As such, the Wörthner surname is thought to have likely referred to someone who was a metalworker, tinkerer, blacksmith, or machinist.
The name is most likely a local variant of the more common German name ‘Werthner’, which itself is thought to be derived from the middle-high German “werth”, which referred to a person’s value, importance or assets. As such, the name could have originally served as a marker of high economic standing or great value that could be found in a fairly wealthy family or of someone that had accomplished something great.
The Wörthner surname is very seldom found outside of Germany and Austria. Those with the surname mainly reside in the central and eastern parts of the country. Today, it continues to be used as a surname by numerous generations of German and Austrian families.
Order DNA origin analysisWörthner: Where does the name Wörthner come from?
The last name Wörthner is today mainly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a relatively uncommon name, but it is found in most of these countries. It is most common in the southern part of Germany, particularly in Bavaria, where it is among the top 500 most-used names. It is also found in the Alsace region of France and in some parts of the Czech Republic.
In parts of the United States, particularly the Midwestern states, there are a small number of people with the last name Wörthner. Records suggest German immigrants settled in Wisconsin and the Dakotas in the 19th century and a few people with this surname live in these states today.
This last name is derived from the German word 'wörth' meaning a homestead or hall. It is thought to be an occupational surname given to people who owned, managed or lived on a homestead. Later it became a surname used by many German people.
The name is typically spelled Wörthner or Woerthner in German-speaking countries. In English-speaking countries, it is typically spelled Worthinger or Worthington.
Variations of the surname Wörthner
The surname Wörthner is a German surname of several different variants, spellings, and other related surnames. Some of the spellings of this surname include Wörrthner, Wörter, Wörtner, Wört, Worrn, Worner, and Werthner. People in different areas have adapted the spelling of this surname to better fit regional dialects. For example, in Austria and some neighboring countries, the spelling has been changed to "Wörter".
Other related surnames include Wirthner, Worthner, Werthner, Worner, Wörtner, Würtner, and Wirten. These surnames have originated from the same root name but have been slightly changed to fit regional dialects. Würthner is a very rare spelling of the surname, and is mainly found in Germany and Austria.
There are also several variants of the surname stemming from other nationalities where the name has been changed to fit local languages. For example, the name Paoli is a derivative of the original Italian surname Pauli, which has been changed to fit the Italian language. Similarly, the German surname Kressler has been changed to the Dutch-speaking family name Kreuter.
The surname Wörthner has been used across many countries for many years, evidenced by the variety of different derivatives of the name that exist today. It is a testament to the strength of this surname that it has been adapted and changed across time to fit numerous languages and cultures and still remain, at heart, the same surname.
Famous people with the name Wörthner
- Johannes Wörthner, German bobsledder
- Wilfried Wörthner, German biologist
- Silvia Wörthner, German librarian
- Katja Wörthner, German actress
- Ariane Wörthner, Swiss author
- Sigrid Wöthner, German artist
- Sabrina Förthner, German singer
- Heinz Wörthner, German psychiatrist
- Karen Wörthner-Wang, German-Chinese professor
- Thomas Wörthner, German painter