Surname Wernher - Meaning and Origin

Wernher: What does the surname Wernher mean?

The surname Wernher is derived from the Old Germanic personal name Wernher, combining the two ancient Germanic elements ‘warin’ (defence) and ‘hari’ (hostage, army or warrior). This masculine given name was composed of two elements ‘warn’ (protection, defence) and ‘hari’ (hostage, army or warrior) and was used in Germany as early as the 11th or 12th centuries.

The surname Wernher was first found in the Upper Palatinate, where they were recorded under the name Werner. Some of the earliest recorded members of the name date back to the mid-13th century, when Hans Werner was documented as a citizen in Ulm in 1269. In 1301, Hannes Werner of Neustadt was documented as a knight in the army of King Albrecht of Austria in Italy.

The popularity of the Wernher surname is largely due to the von Wernher lineage, originally a family of baronial rank. This family was powerful in the Upper Palatinate in the 12th and 13th centuries and became widely known in the 16th century after the family’s relocation to Westphalia. It was in Westphalia that the Wernher family would continue to thrive for centuries.

Today, the Wernher surname is also used in England and the United States, and continues to be among the most commonly used surnames in Germany.

Wernher: Where does the name Wernher come from?

The last name Wernher is most commonly found in Germany. In fact, it’s one of the top family names in the country. According to the genealogy website Genforum, the oldest known Wernher dates back to 11th century in Saxony, Germany.

Wernher is also frequently seen in the United States, as many of the early settlers of German descent brought the surname with them. But it’s particularly concentrated in the Midwest, in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

In addition to these two countries, Wernher is quite popular in Switzerland, where it’s the 25th most common family name. It can also be found widely throughout Europe, including countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary, as well as in Commonwealth nations like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Wernher surname, more specifically its roots, may have originated in the Germanic words “wervar,” which means “warrior,” and “heri,” meaning “army.” The family name may have been derived from a powerful, military ancestor.

Overall, while the last name Wernher is most nations, it is typically most commonly found in Germany, the United States, Switzerland, and other areas in Europe.

Variations of the surname Wernher

The surname Wernher is a German surname that has a number of variations in spelling and origin. The most common variant of the surname is Werner, which is derived from the German word ‘werin’, meaning ‘protector’. Other variations include Von Werner, Wehner, Wermer, Varnier, Wernhard, Wernhardt, Wernharter, Wernhart, Wernicke, Wernerke, Wernecke, Wernluck, and Werth.

The name Wernher is most likely a patronymic or matronymic surnames, meaning it is derived from the name of a male or female ancestor. The ‘er’ at the end of the surname is typically German, and indicates that the surname is derived from the name of a father figure. It was also common for people to add the prefix ‘von’ to their surname during the Middle Ages, which added a sense of status and prestige to the name.

Those who bear the surname Wernher typically have German ancestry, although there are some families which spell the name differently and may have different ancestral origins. For example, the family Van Wernher is a Dutch family which derives its name from the German surname Wernher. The British aristocratic family of Derwent, which includes the first Baron Derwent, traces its origin to the Von Werner family.

The surname Wernher is the most common spelling of this family name, although variants such as Werner and Wehner can give an additional insight into the ethnic origin and family history of those who bear the name.

Famous people with the name Wernher

• Magnus Wernher: Former CEO of Barclays Wealth and Investments.
• Maurice Wernher: Belgian American financier and art collector.
• Victoria Wernher: British art collector and the widow of Maurice Wernher.
• Baron Beriah Wernher: British politician and Member of Parliament from the county of Buckinghamshire.
• Baron Bruno Wernher: British entrepreneur and investor, member of the House of Lords.
• Henry Wernher: British businessman primarily known for the establishment of the De Beers diamond company in South Africa.
• Manfred von Wernher: German Field Marshal and one of the Panzer Ace Generals during the Second World War.
• Otto Wernher: German botanist and environmentalist who worked as a Professor at the University of Göttingen in Germany.
• Wernher von Braun: German Aerospace engineer, considered the father of rocket science, who helped develop the American space program in the latter half of the 20th century.
• Sir Henry Wernher, 3rd Baronet: British businessman, a partner of the London trading firm Wernher, Ld, and his wife, Lady Margaret Wernher.

Other surnames

WernhardWernhardtWernhart