Surname Wörz - Meaning and Origin

Wörz: What does the surname Wörz mean?

The last name Wörz is of German origin and has two distinct possible meanings.

Firstly, it is believed to derive from the Old German personal name Wurz, which was composed of the Germanic elements ‘wurtz’ meaning "enclosed of piece of ground," and ‘wig’ meaning ‘war’. Together, the meaning of this name could be translated as ‘warrior from enclosed land’.

Alternately, the name may have a much more prosaic origin. It is thought to have derived from the Middle High German elements ‘wurze’ and ‘man’, meaning ‘servant’. In this case, the name Wurz would become Wörz, meaning ‘farmer’s servant’, and could have evolved as a nickname for the forefather of the family.

Today, Wörz is a common German surname, with an estimated number of 200-500 bearers. It is most commonly found in Bavaria, though it is present throughout most of German-speaking Europe.

Whichever of these explanations is correct, the surname has long been an integral part of German culture, carrying the weight of its long past and lending the family it belongs to an interesting and unique piece of their culture.

Wörz: Where does the name Wörz come from?

The last name Wörz is most commonly found in parts of southern Germany and Austria, as well as some parts of Switzerland. This is likely due to its Germanic origin, and because of migration over the centuries. People with the last name Wörz may come from areas such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony. It is rare to find a person with the last name Wörz in other parts of the world, but it is not impossible.

The last name Wörz is also associated with Austria, where it has been present since before the 19th century. It is particularly common in the states, or federal states, Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, and the capital city, Vienna. People with the last name Wörz in Austria likely have an ancestry that dates back to the region. It is likely that Wörz families settled in other parts of Europe, especially in the Middle Ages.

There is also a possibility of a French connection to the last name Wörz. "La forez" is a French region with a similar sounding name and it is possible that Wörz was a variant of the French name Fors. As people moved and migrated, they took their last name with them and it evolved over time, leading to the modern-day last name Wörz.

In recent years, the name Wörz has been used for both first names and surnames. It is also sometimes used as a nickname given to people with other last names, such as Wörzella or Wöri. Today, it is not uncommon to find people with the last name Wörz living in Europe and even around the world.

Variations of the surname Wörz

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wörz are: Woerz, Woerlz, Wörl, Woehl, Wohl, Wurz, Vurz, Vörz and Voehle.

The surname Wörz originated from the Middle High German ‘wurz’ which evolved from the old German ‘wurt’, meaning ‘vegetable patch’. Thus, this surname would have originally been used to denote someone who worked in or owned a vegetable patch.

The variants of Wörz range from the more typical spelling of Woerz to other less common ones such as Woerlz, Whl, Wurz, Vurz, Vörz and Voehle. Wörz was most popular in Bavaria and Austria during the late 18th century and was found in areas along the western boundary of modern day Switzerland.

The spelling variations of the surname Wörz indicate different regions and dialects it was used in which made it difficult for researchers to trace the exact origin of the surname. The spelling of the surname has also changed over time due to German spelling reforms, hence the multiple spelling variations.

In some parts of the United States, the surname Wörz is spelled as Worse or Wuerz. This could be an indicator of the German immigrants who arrived in the United States during the 1800s but retained the European spellings of the surname.

The surname is still found across Europe but is not as popular as it was prior to migration. It is now most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Wörz

• Anne Wörz: German author and playwright
• Christoph Wörz: Swiss alpine skier
• Christian Wörz: German actor
• Elisabeth Wörz: German actress
• Heinrich Wörz: German U-boat commander
• Paul Wörz: Swiss singer
• Peter Wörz: German footballer
• Sepp Wörz: Austrian skater
• Thomas Wörz: German sculptor
• Werner Wörz: German Air Force officer
• Willy Wörz: German footballer
• Helmut Wörz: German actor

Other surnames

Worzencraft