Surname Wortmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Wortmeyer: What does the surname Wortmeyer mean?
The surname Wortmeyer is of German origin, likely derived from two German compound elements – ‘wort’, meaning ‘word’ or ‘statement’, and ‘meyer’, meaning ‘steward’ or ‘overseer’. Taken together, the combination could refer to a steward of scriptures or similar, and is frequently found in records of early German-speaking communities.
It is thought that the first Wortmeyer ancestors may have been stewards of scripture in religious or educational settings, or perhaps a "scribe", a professional writer of formal documents, or someone who was in charge of managing judicial records.
It is plausible that early Wortmeyers with the same surname could have come from highly diversified backgrounds. They could have been widely dispersed throughout the German and Swiss regions, and eventually immigrated to other parts of Europe and beyond. It is often impossible to accurately track their migration, as the passage of time has often caused records to be mislaid or lost, or not accurately documented or connected.
In more modern times, Wortmeyer may still reflect a steward of formal records, or simply be carried as a surname as their previous holders long since passed. The once prestigious role may have provided the surname’s first families the distinction of professional status as well as instilling a hint of mystery and intrigue that can still make the modern-day Wortmeyer feel quite unique.
Order DNA origin analysisWortmeyer: Where does the name Wortmeyer come from?
The last name Wortmeyer is believed to be of German origin. The name likely started out as a patronymic form of the name Wortman, derived from the Germanic word wurten, meaning "known". Today, the surname Wortmeyer is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. In Germany, it is primarily concentrated in the western states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hessen, and Bavaria. In the United States, the surname is most frequently found in the Midwest region, particularly in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, and Minnesota. Some Wortmeyer families also settled in the Northeast in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.
In the United States, an individual with the surname Wortmeyer can also trace his or her ancestry to settlers of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The surname also appears in Canada, specifically in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. In other countries, the surname may be spelled slightly differently, such as Wurtenmyer or Vortmeyer.
Due to the high concentration of individuals with the surname Wortmeyer in Germany and the United States, it is likely that the surname will remain there for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Wortmeyer
Wortmeyer is an old German name originating in the Rhineland of Germany in the 11th century. It is derived from the German words "wort" meaning "word" and "meyer" meaning "mayor." The variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin for Wortmeyer are Wortmaier, Wortmayer, Werthmayer, Werdenmayer, Werthmair, Wortenmayer, Wortmapy, Wortmier, Wertmeer, Wurthmayer, Wurthmaier, and Wortman.
The first known member of the family was the court official Heinrich Wortmeyer, who lived in the town of Niederzissen in the Electorate of Cologne in 1218. The family name is most commonly found in the Rhineland and preserved its original form there until the beginning of the 19th century.
Over time, certain variants appeared due to other regions and countries the Wortmeyers had moved to in the Middle Ages and later centuries. In Austria, for example, the name was adapted in the form Wurthmair or Wurthmaier, while in Bavaria, the name appeared as Wortmapy.
Furthermore, regional variation and accentuation of the name has resulted in the transfer of Wortmeyer to Wortenmayer or Werthmair. Thus, Wortmaier began to be written “Wortmayer” or “Wertmayer” in some regions.
Today, the surname is found in many parts of the world. In the United States, its spelling is usually reverted to “Wortmeyer” or “Wertzmeyer”, while in Germanophone countries mostly Wurthmayer is used.
Famous people with the name Wortmeyer
- Shannon Wortmeyer: actress and model
- John Wortmeyer: a former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Fiona Wortmeyer: Australian rules footballer
- Ulrich Wortmeyer: German field hockey player
- Ken Wortmeyer: American football coach
- Sasha Wortmeyer: Canadian artist
- Mathias Wortmeyer: German writer and journalist
- Justin Wortmeyer: American football player
- Janet Wortmeyer: American Antiques Dealer
- Roy Wortmeyer: American politician