Surname Würfele - Meaning and Origin
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Würfele: What does the surname Würfele mean?
The last name Würfele is of Germanic origin and is derived from the word "wurfel," which means "cube." The surname may have been used to describe a person who was expert at "throwing the cube" - an old German game.
The original bearer of this name would have been someone who participated and excelled in this form of entertainment, or someone perhaps who lived in a small, cube-like building or dwelling where the game may have been played.
The earliest known mention of the Würfele surname dates back to the 16th century in Bavaria, Germany. The first recorded bearer of the name was Leonhardt Würfele, who was listed as a landowner in Singen, Germany in 1536.
The name spread throughout Germany and eventually expatriated to other countries such as the United States and Canada. Variations of the name include Wuerfel and Wuurfel.
Overall, the last name Würfele holds many symbolic meanings. It represents family, tradition, and a way of life that has been passed down through many generations of the German people.
Order DNA origin analysisWürfele: Where does the name Würfele come from?
The surname Würfele is most commonly found in parts of Germany and Austria today. The surname is usually seen spelled as Würfle or Würfel, but both versions are of the same German origin. It is believed to have been derived from the Old German word wurfel, meaning “dice” or “cube.” This most likely indicates a nickname or occupation for the original bearer of the surname.
The Würfele surname can be commonly found in southern German states such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It can also be seen in the western Austrian states of Vorarlberg and Tirol, although not as common as in Germany.
The occurrence of the surname around Germany and Austria has remained quite consistent to this day. According to the 1990 phone book of Germany, the surname was most commonly found in the main Bavarian city of Augsburg, followed by the southern and eastern city of Bregenz in Austria.
The surname Würfele is quite rare outside of the German-speaking world. It is not a very common surname in the United States and United Kingdom, but some bearers still exist in those countries, mainly having emigrated from Germany and Austria a few generations ago.
Variations of the surname Würfele
The surname Würfele is found in countries with a German-speaking population, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries that speak Germanic languages, primarily in Europe. Variants of the surname include Wuerfele, Werfele, Wuerfele, Wuerfel, Werfel, Gwerfel, Wirfel, Werfal, and Wuerfeld.
Würfele has its origins in the Germanic language. In the earliest records, the name appears as a form of “Würfer” that could be taken to mean “a thrower or one who throws” and “a chalker, one who chalks”. The surname could refer to someone who was a “thrower of dice” or to someone who used chalk to mark fields. The connection to a player of dice could also have a gambling-related meaning.
There are also other spellings for this surname, such as Wurfeler, Wurfell, and Wurfeller. The variants could arise from a range of errors associated with the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.
The name could have also taken on several different surnames over time. For example, Wuerfelmann and Wuerfelmann are two distinct surnames with the same origin.
In addition, there are also related surnames derived from Würfele, such as Worfel, Workle, Wurfl, Wurfler, and Wurfy. These variants typically refer to a person who either worked or lived near a wurfel or wurf (a low hill, ridge, or mound).
In summary, the surname Würfele is derived from the Germanic language. Variants of the name include Wuerfele, Werfele, Wuerfele, Wuerfel, Werfel, Gwerfel, Wirfel, Werfal, and Wuerfeld as well as spellings such as Wuerfeler, Wurfell, and Wurfeller. It is also related to surnames derived from Würfele, such as Worfel, Workle, Wurfl, Wurfler, and Wurfy.
Famous people with the name Würfele
- Johannes Würfele (1880–1936), German entomologist
- Birgit Würfele (born 1957), German actress
- Christian Würfele (born 1965), French author
- Felix Würfele (born 1990), Swiss cyclist
- Maximilian Würfele (born 2002), German TV actor
- Erwin Würfel (1925–2002), German professor of law
- Hans Würfel (1902–1995), German cinematographer
- Erwin Würfeling (born 1952), German professor of statistics
- Jerzy Wurfel (1890–1981), American football player
- Petar Wurfel (born 1980), Croatian judoka