Surname Wurtz - Meaning and Origin
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Wurtz: What does the surname Wurtz mean?
The surname Wurtz is mainly found in German-speaking countries and is derived from the Middle High German Wurtzen or Wurtze, and the Middle Low German Wurtse. Although the original meaning of the Latin noun verticillus, from which these terms were derived, was simply "spindle," the Wurtz surname likely came to designate a person who was engaged in the spinning industry, such as a spinner or wool-weaver.
The earliest records of the name come from medieval Bavaria, where a Jacob Wurtze is known to have been living in 1274. In later centuries, the name spread to other countries, such as France, where a family of the name Wurtz is recorded as early as 1311. It is also found in several other parts of Europe, including Switzerland, Belgium, and Alsace. In America, the name Wurtz is believed to have been introduced by German-speaking immigrants in the 19th century.
Due to its German origin, the surname Wurtz is likely derived from the personal name Wurte, a pet form of Wurtger, which is composed of the Germanic elements wurt meaning "glory" or "power" and ger meaning "spear." This implies that the original bearer of the surname belonged to a powerful family or clan.
Order DNA origin analysisWurtz: Where does the name Wurtz come from?
The last name Wurtz can be found commonly in many countries around the world. In Europe, it is most common in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. In Switzerland, Wurtz is the 95th most common surname, and it is even more popular in Germany and Austria, ranking 72nd and 56th respectively. Outside of Europe, the last name Wurtz can also be found in the United States, where it ranks 7,034th in popularity. In Canada, it is more common, ranking 984th.
The Wurtz name can also be found in the French-speaking countries of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In France, it is the 927th most common last name, while in Belgium, it is the 1,495th most common. Luxembourg also has a few Wurtz families and the name can be seen in the country's telephone directories.
The last name Wurtz also has a significant presence in Australia. According to the 2018 census, the last name ranks 5,744th in popularity, making it fairly common for a country as big as Australia. Wurtzs can also be found living in New Zealand, South Africa, and Namibia.
Given its widespread presence, it is likely that the last name Wurtz has been around for centuries. Although much of its early origins remain a mystery, what is known is that Wurtz is derived from the middle German word “wurts,” which means “onion.” This suggests that the pickled onion may have been a part of the Wurtz family's diet or trade at some point in the past.
Variations of the surname Wurtz
The surname Wurtz is derived from an occupational name which comes from the Middle High German word "wurz," meaning "root." It is a very old surname, dating back to at least the 10th century.
Variants of the surname Wurtz vary by language. In German, the variants include Wurz and Wurts. In French, the variants are Vürz and Vurz. In Swedish, the variants are Vurz and Vurtz.
Other spellings of the surname Wurtz include Wirtz, Wirt, Vurtz, Vurt, Vörz, Vörts and Vorz.
Surnames of the same origin, but with different spellings, include Werz, Wertz, Wirz, Wirtzberger, Wirtzler and Wendt.
The Wurtz surname is also found in various forms in other countries, such as Vortz in Latvia, Vorts in Ukraine and Wirths in North America.
This surname is quite common in Europe and can be found in many places, such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and some parts of the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Wurtz
- Craig Wurtz: an American actor
- Alexander Wurtz: a German composer and organist
- David Wurtz: an American professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Minnesota
- Willard Wurtz: a Canadian swimmer
- Phil Wurtz: a retired American baseball professional
- Joseph Wurtz: a French politician
- Matt Wurtz: an American muscial artist
- Bandana Wurtz: a London-based artist
- Justin Wurtz: an American basketball coach and former player
- Charl Wurtz: a former American football running back
- John Wurtz: an American filmmaker and actor
- Eric Wurtz: an American actor and producer
- Brigitte Wurtz: a former French skier
- Theodore Wurtz: a former American basketball player
- Judy Wurtz: an American voice actress
- Bakari Wurtz: an American football player
- Jean-Raymond Wurtz: a French journalist
- Scott Wurtz: an American ice hockey player
- Johan Wurtz: a Belgian football player
- David Wurtz: an Australian cricketer