Surname Würtlein - Meaning and Origin
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Würtlein: What does the surname Würtlein mean?
Würtlein is a German surname with two distinct roots. The first root of the name can be traced back to the Middle High German word “wurt”, meaning “a small area or piece of land”. In early records of the name, it is common to see references to someone owning small fields or pieces of land, leading us to believe that Würtlein was a common occupational name for farmers.
The second root of the name is derived from the Middle High German verb “wurteln”, meaning “to twist”. This suggests another occupational name, this time referring to a rope maker or basket-weaver. The surname is most commonly associated with southern Germany, particularly Bavaria, where it is still used today.
Overall, the name Würtlein suggests a long tradition of small landholders and skillful craftspeople from southern Germany. Its roots in Bavaria make it an especially special name, more than worth its adornment of coats of arms and badges. Its meaning is ancient, its stories are unique, and its legacy is strong. Würtlein is a name full of pride and tradition, woven with a rich heritage of hardworking people and lands.
Order DNA origin analysisWürtlein: Where does the name Würtlein come from?
The last name Würtlein is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a relatively rare name but is mainly concentrated around the city of Munich in Bavaria. Records of the name date back to 1540 in the township of Werneck, located between Würzburg and Bamberg in the Upper Franconia region.
Most people with the last name in modern-day Germany can trace their roots to this particular area. However, the name is found all over the country and also in countries all over the world, such as the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The number of people with the name in Germany is estimated to be in the hundreds, but this number is growing.
Those with the last name Würtlein usually fall into either one of two categories; either they are descended from a long-established family, or they are recent immigrants and/or descendants of refugees from the region during or after World War II.
The name Würtlein is often associated with Catholic people in Germany due to the area it originates from and the fact that many Catholic parishes in Bavaria have long recorded the baptisms, marriages, and deaths of members of the Würtlein family.
Regardless of its origins and links to religion, the last name is still a prominent one in Germany and is gradually growing in other countries in different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Würtlein
The surname Würtlein is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "wurzel" meaning root. It is believed that the surname was first found in the Rhineland-Palatine region of Germany.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Würtlein are many and varied. Variations can include Wurtele, Wurtzel, Wurtelein, Wurtzlin, Wurtzlein, Wuertele, Wuertelein, Wuerthlein, Wurthlein, Wurtzlen, Wurteleine, Wheastern, Wuaersteleine, Wastern and Western.
In the United States, the surname Würtlein has been anglicized to Worthlen, Wertlin, Wirthelen, Worthle, Wirthele, Wertlein, Worthlin and Wirthlin.
The surnames Wittlein, Wittlin, Widle, Widlin, Widule, Wiedel, Wiedeler, Wiederle, Wiedler, Wiedles, Wiedling, Wiedl, Wiedlerlein, Weetle, Weitling, Weittlein, Wirele, Wytel, Wyattlin, Wydle and Wytle are also derived from the Middle High German word "wurzel" and share the same origin with Würtlein.
A variant spelling of the surname Würtlein found in the United Kingdom is Worthley.
Famous people with the name Würtlein
- Erwin Würtlein: German classical music composer
- Hans-Wolfgang Würtlein: former captain of the German national football team
- Karl-Heinz Würtlein: former West German speed skater
- Dieter Würtlein: former German ice hockey player
- Willy Würtlein: German folk musician
- Peter Würtlein: former German ski-jumper
- Werner Würtlein: German footballer
- Emanuel Würtlein: German classical music composer
- Hermann Würtlein: former West German cyclist
- Thomas Würtlein: German composer and music producer