Surname Wertmiller - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Wertmiller: What does the surname Wertmiller mean?
The last name Wertmiller is of German origin. It is a habitational surname derived from places named with the German compound words "Werth", meaning “worth” or "value", and "Müller" meaning “miller” or “grinder”. The name would have referred to a person who lives or lived near a miller or grinder.
The surname Wertmiller is found throughout Central and Eastern Europe, with a particularly high concentration in southern Germany. There is also a small concentration of people with the surname Wertmiller in the United States and Canada.
People with the last name Wertmiller tend to be of German, Czech, Swiss, or Austrian descent. It is likely that some of the Wertmiller families in Europe moved to the United States during the 19th century, as the United States was receiving an influx of European immigrants at that time.
The Wertmiller surname can be found in many records such as U.S. census records, draft records, immigration records, and even WWI medal cards. These records can be helpful in researching the history and origin of the Wertmiller surname.
The Wertmiller surname was common enough that several military and civilian awards were granted to people with this last name. These awards are a testament to the bravery and loyalty of the people with the last name Wertmiller.
Order DNA origin analysisWertmiller: Where does the name Wertmiller come from?
The last name Wertmiller is primarily found in Europe, and the countries of origin are believed to be France, Germany and Czech Republic. It is most commonly seen today in Germany and the Czech Republic, where the surname is also spelled Wortmueller or Wurtmueller. It is estimated that there are over 8,000 people in Europe with this surname.
The surname is also found in the United States, though it is much less common than it is in Europe. People with the last name Wertmiller mainly live in mill towns of Pennsylvania, and in other Pennsylvania towns with a high number of German immigrants, such as Lancaster and Reading. There is also a notable population in the Midwest, primarily in Indiana.
In recent years, variations of the surname have made their way to Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. There is also a significant population of Wertmillers in South Africa, likely brought over by German immigrants from the 18th century. The population of Wertmillers in the United States is estimated to be around 1,500 people.
Given its roots and prevalence in Europe, it is likely that most people with the last name Wertmiller today are descended from German or Czech immigrants or their descendants, who likely adopted the name as a way to distinguish themselves from each other in the old country.
Variations of the surname Wertmiller
Wertmiller is an uncommon surname. It is most likely derived from an occupation name or a topographical name. Variants of the surname include Wertmuller, Wertmuller, Wermuller and Wermueller. It is often mistaken for the surname Wertheimer.
The earliest known mention of the name Wertmiller appears to be that of brothers Johann and Henrich Wertmiller, citizen of Stephanshöffen, on a list of settlers in southern Russia in the late 1700s. From then on, the Wertmiller surname could be found in church records and other historical documents in Germany, Russia, and the United States.
Other related spellings and surnames include Wertmeuller, Wertmulder, Wertmeuldor, Wertmeuller, Wertmuehler, Wertmeuller, Wertmillet, Wertmyller, Wiermueller, Wiestmueller, Wirtmueller, Wyermueller, Wyermuller, and Wyermueller.
The surname is most common in the United States today, especially in Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. While the surname is not especially rare, it is still considered an uncommon last name and is not among the top 1,000 surnames in the United States.
Famous people with the name Wertmiller
- Kilian Wertmüller: Swiss lawyer and researcher who wrote several works on climate law, the digital economy, and sustainable development.
- Scott Wertmiller: Entrepreneur and investor in the UK healthcare market.
- Edgar Wertmiller, Jr.: American businessman who developed Papa John’s Pizza, a popular chain of pizza restaurants.
- Matthias Wertmiller: German cinematographer and director of photography for the movie “The Revenant”.
- Martha Wertmüller: American artist and sculptor known for her paintings depicting Modernist compositions of geometric shapes, often using primary colors.
- Hanke Wertmiller: Belgian painter and printmaker associated with the European movement of Flemish expressionism.
- Derek Wertmiller: American producer, director, editor, and film professor.
- Joe Wertmiller: American sculptor sculpted the famous bronze “Wings of Freedom” monument found at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
- Topher Wertmiller: American character actor and Wikipedia editor.
- Paul Wertmiller: American songwriter and composer credited with writing the popular track “I Love You, Now What?”.