Surname Wertmüller - Meaning and Origin
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Wertmüller: What does the surname Wertmüller mean?
The last name Wertmüller is a German-origin name, derived from the Low German words "wert," meaning value, and "müller," meaning miller. Historically, this name was most likely given to someone who operated a mill in a village and was responsible for the production and sale of grains and other grains-related products. It also indicates that the person may have been a tenant farmer, working under the landowner's control.
The Wertmüller surname has become much more common in recent years, due to the filmmaker and screenwriter Lina Wertmüller, who is known for her controversial works such as Seven Beauties and Swept Away. She is the only female director to be nominated for an Academy Award for the Best Director category, the first Italian ever to be nominated in the category.
Today, people with the Wertmüller surname are a part of a global population of the Wertmüller families. They are scattered around the world, having inherited the surname through generations of descent from the original Wertmüller family, however distant the connection might be. The surname generally denotes strength, determination and hard work, all qualities which would befit a miller or tenant farmer.
Order DNA origin analysisWertmüller: Where does the name Wertmüller come from?
The last name Wertmüller is most commonly found in Italy, Germany, and other parts of Central Europe. It was first recorded in the Alsace region of France, although it may have originated elsewhere in Europe. It is likely derived from the German word "wert," meaning value or worth.
In Italy, the surname has been popular since the Middle Ages and is still found in many parts of the country, particularly in the northern regions. It is also popular in Germany and other Central European countries, as well as in the United States.
In the United States, the surname was first recorded in New Jersey in the late 16th century. It is common throughout the country, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and California.
The surname is most often associated with the Italian director Lina Wertmüller (born 1933). She is one of the most acclaimed female directors in film history, having been the first to be nominated for a Best Director Academy Award in 1977.
The Wertmüller name is not as common today as it was in the past, but it is still found in many parts of the world. Those who carry the surname reflect the strength and determination of those who have gone before them.
Variations of the surname Wertmüller
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Wertmüller include Wärtmüller, Wortmueller, Wertmuller, Wortmüller, Wertmueller, Vermüller, Vermuller, Vermueller, and Wörmüller.
Wertmüller is a German surname that was likely derived from the name of a place or town, the prefix “Wert” meaning “value” or “worth”, and the suffix “müller” meaning “miller” or “millist”. The mill business was one of the most popular professions in medieval Europe in the Middle Ages. The Wertmüller surname is mainly found in Germany to this day, but its variants are also popular in Austria and Switzerland.
The different European tongues and dialects have over the centuries led to several variants of the surname. In German, the "ü" is sometimes replaced by an "ä" and the "ø" is sometimes replaced by an "ö". In some regions, the surname was used as a questioning prefix such as Wortmüller or Vermüller, as in "What is the mill worth?" - a phrase which would have been used to determine the value of the mill. This variant has been simplified over time to Wortmueller or Vermuller.
The Wertmüller surname is also found with the same variants and spellings in English. Some variants may also show up in Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, and other languages. As a result, the Wertmüller surname has evolved into many different spellings, variants, and surnames, although all are of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Wertmüller
- Lina Wertmüller: Lina Wertmüller is an Italian film director and screenwriter. She is renowned for being the first woman to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for the 1976 film “Seven Beauties.”
- Wolf-Dieter Wertmüller: Wolf-Dieter Wertmüller is a German competitive sailor. He competed in the 470 class at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where he placed sixth, and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he placed 17th.
- Lorenzo Wertmüller von Elgg: Lorenzo Wertmüller von Elgg is an Italian musicologist, conductor, and inventor of the harpsichord-style organ. He is one of the foremost researchers of the music of the Baroque era.
- Roger Wertmüller von Elgg: Roger Wertmüller von Elgg is a Swiss entrepreneur and aviator. He is the founder of the Swiss aeronautical firm Autogyro Wertmüller and was the first person to fly a helicopter across the Alps without refueling.
- Andre Wertmüller: Andre Wertmüller is a Swiss aviator and entrepreneur. He is responsible for several aeronautical engineering innovations, travelled widely, and was the first person to fly a motorized glider across the English Channel.
- Salvator Wertmüller: Salvator Wertmüller is an Italian composer. He is best known for his series of 10 operas based on the life of Jesus Christ, and as the first student of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Holger Wertmüller: Holger Wertmüller is a Swiss aviator and entrepreneur. He is the owner of the firm Autogyro Wertmüller and an important innovator in the field of powered flight.
- Felix Wertmüller: Felix Wertmüller is a Swedish architect and designer. He is the founder of the firm Wertmüller + Partners, which specialises in modern sustainable architecture.
- Thomas Wertmüller: Thomas Wertmüller is a German architect and professor. He is the author of many books on the history of architecture and is particularly noted for his research on Gothic churches in northern Europe.
- Max Wertmüller: Max Wertmüller is a German film director and screenwriter. He is notable for directing the highly acclaimed films “The Seven Year Itch” and “The Devil’s Gavel.”