Surname Wuehrmann - Meaning and Origin
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Wuehrmann: What does the surname Wuehrmann mean?
The surname Wuehrmann is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words “wurm” and “mann”, meaning “worm” and “man”, respectively. This surname likely either referred to someone who made or sold items made from the material, or it was a name given to someone who was regarded as a “worm”, such as a low-ranking peasant or servile lackey.
In the 18th century, the surname Wuehrmann was originally spelled “Wurmmann”, but during the 19th century, the spelling changed to the “Wuehrmann” that is still in use today.
The surname Wuehrmann appears all across Germany, as well as in North America, where it was taken to by German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, Wuehrmann is a fairly common surname.
In modern German, the spelling of “Wuehrmann” can also be “Wuerhmann”. While the pronunciation has changed slightly over time, the meaning of “worm man” remains the same.
While the original meaning of the surname Wuehrmann was likely unfavorable, today it is a name that is celebrated within those families that bear the surname. It is a reminder of the family’s German heritage and their ancestors’ struggle to make a better life for themselves.
Order DNA origin analysisWuehrmann: Where does the name Wuehrmann come from?
The last name Wuehrmann is primarily found in Germany, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. In North Rhine-Westphalia, in particular, the most common regions to find people with the Wuehrmann surname are Aachen and Düsseldorf. The surname is also present in smaller numbers in Austria, Switzerland and Russia.
Within Germany, the Wuehrmann surname is most consistently found around historical centers of immigration. It is thought to be derived from regions of Swabia, in particular the small towns of Rainau and Überlingen. Both of these areas remain locations with high populations of people with the Wuehrmann surname.
Over time, the surname has spread as people with the Wuehrmann name have moved on to new locations and places, particularly in search of trade, or as a result of marriage. Other areas around Germany, including Mannheim, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg and Hanover, also have significant populations of the Wuehrmann surname. This pattern of spread is also seen in surrounding countries where the surname has been brought over.
Over more recent times, the name has had less significant movement and is much more regularly found in the historically relevant areas of Germany. The largest national population of Wuehrmann’s remain within Germany, with numbers of about 123,400 as of 2020.
Variations of the surname Wuehrmann
Wuehrmann is an uncommon Germanic surname derived from the personal name Wewer or Wewarm, a Proto-Germanic word meaning“army” or “warrior”.
Variations of this surname include Würmann, Wührmann, Wuerhmann, wurman, wurmann, woehrmann, wehrman, wehrmann, whermann, wererman, weowerman, and veerman.
It is a common alternate spelling of the German surmane, Würmann, which comes from the old German given name Wewer, meaning “strong man” or “warrior”.
In some cases, the surnames are also associated with the Dutch and Flemish variations, Wouterman and Waeterman.
The surname has been found in various forms in Europe in records dating back to the 14th century. For example, it appears in records in Hesse, Germany during the 1400s as Wareman. In the 16th century, it appears in records from Saxony and Switzerland.
In the United States, the surname Wuehrmann can be found in records dating back to the 19th century, when immigrants from Germanic-speaking countries first began arriving.
The surname may also have variants in other languages. For example, in Sweden it may be spelled Wersländ and in Poland it may be spelled Werchmieszczyzna.
Therefore, while the surname Wuehrmann is not particularly common, its variants offer interesting glimpses into the history and diversity of the name.
Famous people with the name Wuehrmann
- John Wuehrmann, Former chairman of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- Carl Wuehrmann, German cartoonist, caricaturist and writer
- Ferdi Wuehrmann, Former Manager at Zimmermann, Klein & Co.
- Carl Wuehrmann, Senior advisor at Troubadour Ventures
- Don Wuehrmann, Former Missouri state representative
- Nancy Wuehrmann, Former Director at SAVE International and North Atlantic Region Co-Director
- Grant Wuehrmann, Former CFO and COO at CAM Construction
- Jack Wuehrmann, Retired lawyer and former executive director of Governmental Research Association
- Rick Wuehrmann, Emmy Award winner and editor for ABC News
- Heather Wuehrmann, Actuary at Northwestern Mutual