Surname Werndt - Meaning and Origin
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Werndt: What does the surname Werndt mean?
The last name Werndt is derived from the Middle High German term "werne," meaning "warning, to ward off." This term was used to describe a person who kept watch or protected others from danger. The surname first appeared in the 13th century in Germany.
The Werndt name is found in many countries around the world, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia. In some countries, variants of the name include Verndt, Worndt, Varndt, Wernet, Wernett and Werndl.
The Werndt surname appears in records from early German nobility. In the 17th century, for example, Johann Daub, Baron von Werndt, was mentioned in a court ruling in Silesia, Germany.
Today, the Werndt name is still relatively common in Germany, although its usage is declining in comparison to other surnames. Many people with the Werndt surname are also descended from German immigrants who moved to the United States, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, or Argentina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In general, the Werndt surname signifies a history of hard work and dedication to one's family and community. It suggests someone who is strong-willed, brave, and protective of the people and things they care about.
Order DNA origin analysisWerndt: Where does the name Werndt come from?
The last name Werndt is most commonly found today in Germany. According to the German Surname Atlas, it is most commonly located in the northeast of the country, in popular states such as Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also found in Thuringia, Bavaria, and Saxony in smaller numbers.
The surname Werndt dates back to early German records and primarily originates from the former German duchy of Holstein. It is believed to have been first recorded in 1419 in Mexicoenthal, located in Holstein. According to the German Surname Atlas, the name is derived from the old German word and personal name “Wern”, which means “brave” or “strong”. Other variations of the surname include Wernhard, Werntz, and Werneth.
The Werndt surname is believed to have spread and gradually become more prominent over the centuries. The last name is still relatively uncommon in Germany today, but is growing for the most part in the eastern regions of the country.
Variations of the surname Werndt
The Werndt surname can have various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin depending on the country where it originally came from.
In Germany, Werndt is popularly known as Werndl and in Austria and other parts of Europe, as Vernl. In the United States, the surnames have been anglicized to sound closer to the original name, such as Wurndle, Wierndle, Wierndum, Verndle, and Verndt.
Other variants of the surname include Warndt, Warnt, Wuendt, Woendt, Wund, and Wünd.
In certain countries of South America, the German or Austrian variant of the surname may have been changed to Vierndt or Vierndl, as well as Wierndt or Wierndl.
Surnames that are similar to Werndt but not of the same origin include Würndl (from northern Germany), Verdle, Windt (a Dutch surname), Vèrdus, and Wronce.
The surname has also evolved to include the Danish and Swedish surnames Verndahl, Verndal, Värndahl, and Wärndahl, as well as the Polish surname Wernic.
The Werndt surname is a fairly common one and has been around for centuries, usually spelled in the same way, but with different spellings and variants depending on the language and country of origin.
Famous people with the name Werndt
- Thorsten Werndt: German biologist who, alongside his colleague Andreas Hejnol, has identified the gene responsible for the slow-paced development in a species of worm.
- Saskia Werndt: German harpist and composer renowned for her collaborations with various folk and world music artists.
- Heinz Werndt: prominent Austrian cyclist who earned the silver medal in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Margarete Werndt: Austrian singer and actress renowned for her many roles in the operatic works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Joseph Werndt: Swiss geographer and glaciologist, considered to be one of the most prominent figures in the further study of glaciers.
- Nadine Werndt: German swimmer who was known for competing in the Women's 400 metre medley event in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Rebecca Werndt: German novelist and poet who was the recipient of both the Alfred Döblin Prize, and the Georg Büchner Prize, in 1990.
- Verena Werndt: Austrian Olympic rower who won two bronze medals during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.
- Martin Werndt: renowned German-born American sculptor who has made numerous lifesize bronze busts of American presidents such as Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower, and George Washington.
- Ulrike Werndt: German actress who has been featured in a number of films including Munich, Der Berg, and Shirin's Wedding.