Surname Würffell - Meaning and Origin
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Würffell: What does the surname Würffell mean?
The last name Würffell is a German surname that originated from the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "wurff," which translates to "river" and "el," an element that was used to indicate a place where people lived. For instance, a frequent combination of these elements was "wurffelhof," which translates to "river farm."
The literal translation of Würffell is "river dweller," indicating the name likely refers to someone who lived near a body of water. During medieval times, settlers who lived close to rivers and streams often profited from the abundance of fish and other resources. This is likely where the Würffell surname originated.
Over time, the name spread throughout Europe, specifically Germany and Austria. Interestingly, the name is most common in Southern Germany—specifically the districts of Oberallgäu and Unterallgäu in the Bavarian region. This small area boasts a large population of people who hold the Würffell family name.
Despite the name's long legacy, its exact etymology is relatively unknown. But one thing is for certain—the Würffells have likely been living in close proximity to rivers for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWürffell: Where does the name Würffell come from?
The last name Würffell is most commonly seen today in Germany and neighbouring countries that make up Germanic Europe, including Austria, parts of Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It is believed to be an occupational surname of 17th century origin, derived from the Middle High German words “werf” and ”vel(e)” (i.e. “werffel”) to describe a person who owned and operated a dye-house.
This name is quite rare and is rarely found outside of Germanic Europe, though it is possible that some may have settled elsewhere due to migration patterns. It was a common name in various states of the German Confederation during the 19th century but appears to have declined significantly since then.
Due to the rarity of the name, there are not many sources for records or genealogical research for the last name Würffell. Most of the records of individuals with this name come from German census data, personal archives, and other publications prior to the 19th century. Sadly, many records from the time period prior to the 17th century have been lost, making it difficult to trace the origin of this surname.
Given its rarity and relationship to Germanic culture, it is likely that the last name Würffell will continue to be most commonly found in Germanic Europe. For anyone interested in researching their heritage using this surname, the best place to start would be to contact any living relatives in Germanic Europe who may be able to provide more information on the name's origin and the history of the family.
Variations of the surname Würffell
The variant spellings and surnames of Würffell vary by location and language. In German, the surname can also be spelled Wuerffel, Woerffel, and Woerffell and it is also sometimes found as Wrufel and Wruffel.
In English-speaking countries, the variants of the Würffell surname include Wuerffel, Woerffel, Worffel, Worffell, and Wrufel.
In France, the surname is most commonly spelled Wurfel, and is also found as Wurffel, Worfel, and Worffel, as well as Wrufel.
In the United States, the variant spellings often seen are Wuerffel, Worffel, and Worffell.
In Italy, the variants of the name are Wurffel and Wurffelle.
No matter how the name is spelled, most people of this surname can trace back their lineages to the region of Germany, particularly Bavaria. In the 16th century, the name was first seen in the area of Franconia.
Famous people with the name Würffell
- Dennis Würffell, former German football player, kicker and coach.
- Bruno Würffell, German sculptor.
- Johann Baptist Gebhard Würffell, German sculptor and carver.
- Carlos Würffell, Brazilian football player.
- Wilhelm Würffell, German mechanical engineer.
- Konrad Würffell, German military and political figure.
- Ernst Würffell, German politician, architect, and pedagogue.
- Erich Würffell, German composer.
- Paul Würffell, German bookseller, literary historian, and editor.
- Gideon S. Würffell, American politician, lawyer, and soldier.