Surname Worde - Meaning and Origin
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Worde: What does the surname Worde mean?
The last name Worde is believed to be of English origin. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name of the male ancestor, which is a form of WORDUM or WORDEN, and which in turn is likely derived from the Old English personal name WORDD, meaning ‘guard’ or ‘watchman’.
During the Middle Ages, patrons and employers would often enlist the services of a watchman in the night hours to guard their property from invasion and theft. This is likely the origin of the last name Worde. A watchman could be a private person; they could also be a government-appointed sentinel assigned to patrolling fortified places such as castles, and they often guarded the custody rights of private individuals.
The surname Worde, as a result, likely arose from the need to differentiate one watchman from another, or to help distinguish between two people from the same area or with the same given name. This could be done not only by his occupation, but also by his physical appearance, region of origin, or even his personal name or the name of an ancestor.
In England, Worde is most commonly found in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, which may suggest an area of origin. It is also an Anglicised form of the Irish surname O’Ward, which could be either of English or Irish-Gaelic origin.
Due to its universal nature, the surname Worde carried weight on its own and spread throughout the British Isles during the Middle Ages. It can be found throughout the United Kingdom, though its usage in the north of England remains the strongest.
Order DNA origin analysisWorde: Where does the name Worde come from?
The surname Worde is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and regions of the British Commonwealth today. It is thought to originate from the Norman invasion of 1066, when the Normans brought the surnames from which many of the English ‘-word’ surnames are derived, including Worde. It has also been suggested that the surname is derived from a place-name, perhaps 'Waterford', rather than being connected to the French-Norman word for 'guard'.
The name is particularly common in areas of England such as Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Sussex. In Scotland, the surname is mainly to be found in Lanarkshire and Midlothian, and in Ireland it is mainly found in counties Monaghan and Cavan. In the United States, the largest population of people with the surname Worde can be found in Massachusetts.
The earliest example of the name appears to be William Wurd, in the Oxfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1221. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1279 in London, and in the Register of the Freemen of Gloucestershire, 1317. The surname also saw a resurgence in popularity in the mid- to late nineteenth century, particularly among British settlers making their home in other parts of the world such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. During the twentieth century, the surname has become increasingly widespread throughout the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Worde
The surname Worde is part of a diverse family of surnames that have evolved from the Old English word “weard,” which means guardian. This surname was originally used by families that were guardians of familial estates or land, as well as those who were responsible for protecting and safeguarding their home and community. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Worde primarily include:
-Ward/Warde: This variant is of Norman origin, like many surnames with the same root.
-Wird/Wirde: This variant is derived from the Old English manorial term “wearda,” meaning “guard” or “keeper.”
-Word/Worde: This is the original Old English spelling, which was conserved through the Middle English period as “wyrd.”
-Verd/Verde: This variant is derived from the French term, “le vert,” which means “the green.”
-Weird/Weirde: This variant is derived from the Old English term, “wyrd,” which means “fate” or “destiny.”
-Wardell/Wardell: This variant is derived from an English given name, derived from the Old English word “weard.”
-Vard/Varde: This variant is derived from the Norman French “warder,” which means “guard.”
-Warder/Warder: This variant is derived from an English personal name, derived from the Old English term “weard.”
-Vird/Virde: This variant is derived from the Old French word “verd,” which means “green.”
-Vord: This variant is derived from an Old English term, “fyrd,” which means “fortress.”
-Worden: This variant is derived from an Old Norse term, “verb,” which means “watch,” or “keep.”
-Werd/Werde: This variant is derived from an Old English term, “weard,” which means “guard” or “protector.”
-Werden: This variant is derived from an Old English term, “werod,” which means “company of people.”
-Virden: This variant is derived from an Old English term, “fyrde,” which means “army.”
Famous people with the name Worde
- Lyle Worde: a non-binary celebrity knows primarily for their work in creating a platform to review eco-friendly beauty products.
- Rich Worde: a retired professional basketball player who was part of the 1980 USA Olympic Basketball Team.
- Reginald Worde: a tech entrepreneur and investor, best known as the founder of the social media platform, Stress.
- Tiffany Worde: an award-winning singer-songwriter who has released numerous successful singles and albums.
- Martina Worde- a Grammy nominated singer and actress. She is best known for her roles in the musicals Grease and Dreamgirls.
- Maria Worde: a fashion designer and founder of the eponymous brand, Wordé.
- Dagmar Worde: an internationally acclaimed actress known for her roles in several award-winning films and tv shows.
- Alexandra Worde: a prominent political activist and advocate for numerous environmental causes around the world.
- Michael Worde: an Emmy and Academy award winning cinematographer who has worked on numerous iconic films, television series, and documentaries.
- Jessica Worde: an actress and producer who is best known for her role in the television series, This Is Us.