Surname Wörter - Meaning and Origin
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Wörter: What does the surname Wörter mean?
The last name Wörter is a German-language surname derived from the Middle High German word “wort” meaning “word” or “saying”. The surname is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is an occupational surname for someone who used and worked with words such as a cleric, teacher, writer, lawyer, or scribe.
The earliest record of the surname Wörter originates in the 15th century in Bavaria, Germany. The first recorded spelling of the family name is in the form of “Worter.” It is likely the name descended from a single ancestor, and variations in spelling over the years may have resulted in several different branches of the family tree.
Today, the Wörter family is still very prominent in Germany specifically and across Europe generally. Although the family name remains mostly concentrated in its homeland, descendants of the original Wörter family can be found in other countries around the world including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In modern-day Germany, Wörter is still regarded as an occupational surname and is associated with knowledgeable and educated individuals who are able to use words and language to achieve success. As a result, the surname is often associated with success and social class.
Order DNA origin analysisWörter: Where does the name Wörter come from?
The last name Wörter is most commonly found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The German language spelling of Wörter is "Woerter".
The Wörter family name is known to have originated in present-day Austria, where it was first found soon after the 12th century. Many branches of the Wörter family settled in other Middle European countries including Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, and Poland.
The Wörter family name was first recorded in Lower Austria's Middle Ages documents. This is where the spelling of the name is first encountered as "Woerter". The name was becoming popular during the German monarchic era. The most noted bearer of this name is Matthäus Willibald Wörter from Tyrol, who served as a chamber counsellor and a lieutenant colonel to Emperor Joseph II. His descendants are still spread across multiple countries today.
In modern times, the last name Wörter can be found most prominently in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In Austria, the Wörter family name is quite common, ranking among the top 200 names. It can also be found in cities throughout Austria, including Berlin, Cologne, Munich, and Frankfurt. In Germany, it is particularly popular in Bavaria, and in Switzerland it is most popular among the Swiss German-speaking population.
Overall, the last name Wörter has remained relatively uncontested in terms of name popularity in the relevant countries the last name is found in. It continues to be a member of the “hall of fame” when it comes to German-speaking last names from the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Wörter
The surname Wörter is of German and Jewish origin and has many different variants, spellings, and surnames.
The spellings of Wörter can vary slightly, such as Woerter, Werter, Waerter, Waerther and Wärter. In some of the old documents that are still in circulation, the surname Wörter can also be found as Waort or Wercz.
Variants of the name can be Waertner, Waertnerin, Woertner, and Woertnerin. In some cases, the surnames Orter or Ortner may have evolved from the same source.
The surname Wörter can also be found as either a given name or a family name. In some cases, Wörter may have been adopted into other languages. Therefore, one can find variants such as Wörtren, Werters, Vorter, Voerter, Vorters, and Voetren.
In Jewish tradition, the surname Wörter can have a slight variation, such as Wortsman. This surname can also be found in some documents, indicating an alternate form of spelling the same name.
Finally, the surname Wörter can also appear as surnames with a hyphen, such as Wörter-Eck, Wörter-Egg, and Wörter-Kühne. These versions of the same name can be found in some records as well.
Famous people with the name Wörter
- Kathrin Wörter: Independent journalist and TV presenter.
- Maximilian Wörter: Austrian actor known for playing major roles in film, TV, and theater.
- Curt Wörter: German painter active in the 1930s.
- Sophie Wörter: German artist and inventor known for her colorful, abstract designs.
- Andreas Wörter: An Austrian botanist whose academic focus was the family Asteraceae.
- Konrad Wörter: 18th century Austrian composer best known for his works for chorus and orchestra.
- Christina Wörter: German sculptress active in the early 20th century.
- Luca Wörter: Fashion designer from Austria.
- Elisabeth Wörter: Austrian writer of children's stories and novels.
- Philipp Wörter: German zoologist and botanist living in the 18th century.