Surname Wörtgen - Meaning and Origin

Wörtgen: What does the surname Wörtgen mean?

The last name Wörtgen is a German surname derived from the Middle High German terms, “wort” and “gen”, meaning "word" and “kin” or “generations” respectively. This surname can be traced back to the medieval period when German surnames were first adopted by families.

The surname was likely given to an ancestor of an individual who was known for their knowledge of language, writing or literature. For example, someone whose occupation was that of a teacher of written language, scribe or author, or a family that held a hereditary position as a court official, public secretary, diplomatic envoy or government representative.

Wörtgen is an occupational moniker, meaning the family that bear this name were likely identified for their language-related profession. It could also be used as a locational name for someone who lived near a settlement of related origin.

The presence of the surname in many regions of Western Europe can be attributed to medieval migrating. As a result of changing forms of warfare, a growing population, and the rise of feudalism and royal titles, many families moved from their ancestral homes in search of stability and peace.

The name Wörtgen is still seen in Germany, as well as other countries with German descendents, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Wörtgen: Where does the name Wörtgen come from?

The last name Wörtgen is predominantly found in Germany, specifically in the West German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The surname is especially common in the towns of Altenkirchen, Wetzlar, and Nassau in the former state. This is likely due to the proliferation of many branches of the Wörtgen family that settled in this area centuries ago.

The Wörtgen family is an old one and is recorded in German documents since the 12th century, when they were associated with knightly service. Historically, the family was concentrated in the area of Westphalia and the Rhineland, in the western part of Germany. During the 17th century, many of them moved to neighboring countries, such as France, Belgium, and Holland, and today, some of the family’s descendants can be found in those places.

Outside of Europe, there are a few members of the Wörtgen family living in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Most of them have likely emigrated from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Today, the last name Wörtgen is still well represented in its place of origin, although it is now fairly rare everywhere else. Numerous descendants of the original Wörtgen family of Westphalia are still present in the area, and some even live outside it, in places like Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Wörtgen

The surname Wörtgen, or Wortgen, can also be spelled correctly in a variety of ways, notably as Wörtgen, Woertgen, Wördgen, Woerdgen, Woertgens and Wurtgen. It is also sometimes written as Wortgens, Wördgens or Woerdgens.

In addition to these spellings, it is possible to find numerous regional, dialectal and immigrant variants of the same surname all over the world. In Germany, for example, variants such as Werthgen, Worzgen and Woerzgen can be found. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, versions like Wortinge and Woertinge can be encountered. In Austria, meanwhile, forms like Wördinger and Woerdinger may sometimes be encountered.

In the United States, descendants of German immigrants who adopted the Wörtgen surname have often used spellings such as Worthings, Worthens, Worthems, Wortoons and Wertgins. These spelling variants have been caused by the different dialects spoken in different parts of the country, and could also be caused by misunderstandings of the spelling and pronunciation of non-native English speakers.

Overall, the surnames Wörtgen and all its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, may well trace its roots back to the Low German-speaking lands of western Germany.

Famous people with the name Wörtgen

• Peter-Alexander Wörtgen: Famous Austrian actor most well-known for his roles in films such as The Castle and Brotherly Love.
• Jens Wörtgen: German footballer who made over 100 appearances for teams such as Hamburger SV and also for the German national team.
• Walter Wörtgen: Austrian figure skater who competed at the 1968 Winter Olympics and the European Figure Skating Championships in 1966 and 1968.
• Gunther Wörtgen: German cinematographer who worked on films such as Europa and Stalingrad.
• David Wörtgen: German racing cyclist who competed in the Tour de France and Paris–Roubaix race.
• Markus Wörtgen: German ice hockey player who won a bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin.
• Wilfried Wörtgen: German footballer who played for teams like Rot-Weiss Essen and Wattenscheid 09.
• Jürgen Wörtgen: German actor and screenwriter who wrote and performed in the film Emmas Glück.
• Louise Wörtgen: German singer who was the lead vocalist for the synth-pop band Deine Lakaien.
• Christoph Wörtgen: German operatic tenor who performed in numerous opera houses around the world, including Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera.

Other surnames

Wörtge