Surname Wertner - Meaning and Origin
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Wertner: What does the surname Wertner mean?
The last name Wertner is thought to have originated in German-speaking countries, most likely in the middle Rhine area of Germany. It is a habitational name, derived from a place name. Specifically, it is believed to have come from a place called "Werdner," which means “enclosure with a fortified farm house” in Old German.
In Germany, the Wertner name is known to have been in existence since the late Middle Ages, but began to become more popular in the 19th century. Wertner family members in this period were recorded in local church and civil records, mostly in Bavaria. Members of the family would have been typically engaged in agriculture and forestry, and as tradespeople or craftsmen.
In German-speaking countries, the main spelling variants of the Wertner name are Wertner, Werther, and Werthner. However, its popularity and usage has spread across Europe, and so other spelling variations of the name can also be encountered.
Wertner is a strongly established last name in many countries, and has come to be a part of the social and cultural fabric in these places. Today, it has developed into a well-known and respected name in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisWertner: Where does the name Wertner come from?
The surname Wertner is most commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Outside of those countries, Wertner is particularly common in the United States, where it was introduced by German-speaking immigrants in the 19th century.
In the United States, Wertner is especially well represented in states with large German populations such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and especially Wisconsin. The peak of German-speaking immigration to the United States occurred between 1860 and 1930, and the modern-day prevalence of the surname Wertner in these states is a testament to the legacy of early German-American settlers.
In modern-day Germany, the surname is mostly found in the Rhineland region and in the Bavarian area of southeastern Germany. The surname is also common in the state of Hesse in western Germany, and is thought to have been introduced to the area due to a migration of Hessian soldiers in the eighteenth century.
The Wertner surname is not as popular today as it once was but is still represented in both Germany and the United States. It usually denotes German ancestry, and can often be traced back to the many different regions in Germany where it has held on as a traditional German surname for hundreds of years.
Variations of the surname Wertner
The surname Wertner is of German and Jewish origin. It is an occupational surname, derived from the German word "Werter" which means "valuer" and was given to someone who valued or appraised goods. It is also believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "werte", meaning "guardian".
Popular variants of the surname Wertner include Wertener, Wertenar, Wertenaer, Werte, Werthner, Wirthner and Wörther.
The spelling for the surname Wertner can also be found in its many alternate spellings, such as Wertener, Wertenar, Wertenaer, Werte, Werthner, Wirthner and Wörther. In the United States, the surname Wertner has been spelled Wertner, Wertener, Wirthner, Werthner, Wertenar, Wertenaer, Wortner and Worthner.
Surnames of similar origin to Wertner are Werter, Wertheimer, Werth, Wertz, Wertheim, Würth, Werthmüller and Worthmüller.
In addition, those with the surname Wertner may also be descended from the Jewish family with the surname Verter, which is of Ukrainian origins and derived from the same root "Valuer". Other Jewish surnames that are similar to Wertner include Wurtz, Wurtzer, Wurtzman and Wurtzweiler.
Famous people with the name Wertner
- Anna Wertner — Austrian politician, former member of the National Council
- Florian Wertner — German entrepreneur, investor, and art collector
- Julie Wertner — Austrian author and screenwriter
- Robert Wertner — German singer and songwriter
- Sylvia Wertner — German Holocaust survivor, former concentration camp inmate, and lecturer
- Valentin Wertner — Austrian constitutional lawyer and legal historian
- Lyle Wertner — American fashion designer and entrepreneur
- Sarah Wertner — German journalist and TV presenter
- Thomas Wertner — German artist and painter
- Mariella Wertner — German dancer and production supervisor