Contents [hide]

Wirth History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Wirth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Wirth

What does the name Wirth mean?

The Wirth surname was a habitational name, taken on from any of various places named Worth. The place names in turn come from the Old English "worð," meaning "enclosure," or "settlement."

"These names are from Anglo-Saxon worth, worthig, weorthig, wurthig, a field, portion of land, a farm, manor, an estate, also a street, public way (vicus, platea)." 1

Early Origins of the Wirth family

The surname Wirth was first found in Devon at Washfield, a parish, in the union of Tiverton, hundred of West Budleigh. "The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £19. 7. 6., and in the gift of J. Francis Worth, Esq. The church contains an old oak screen, which has been painted white; and a curious monument with brasses to the family of Worth." 2

"Worth, in Washfield, is one of the three places in Devon which still remain the possession and residence of families of the same name, the Worths having been seated there since the thirteenth century. " 3

One of the first records of the family is Richard de la Worthe who was listed there 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edward I.) 4

"The ancient family of Worth, which derived its name from the village of Worth, owned estates in Titherington from the 14th to the 17th century. The Worths of this county are now best represented in the Crewe district. The name is also established in Lincolnshire. There are villages thus called in Kent and Sussex." 5

John de Wurde was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1195 and later, Hawaisia de la Wurth was found in the Feet of Fines for Somerset in 1204. Later again, Elyas de la Worlhwas listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243. 6

Early History of the Wirth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wirth research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1587, 1600, 1620, 1659, 1676, 1677, 1689, 1742 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Wirth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wirth Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Worth, Worthe and others.

Early Notables of the Wirth family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Ellis Worth (Woorth)(c. 1587-1659), a noted English actor in the Jacobean and Caroline eras, a leading member of two important companies: Queen Anne's Men and Prince Charles's Men; Roger Worthe, mayor of Exeter, on record in 1620 in the Vide Visitation of Devon; and...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wirth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wirth Ranking

In the United States, the name Wirth is the 3,868^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 7 However, in France, the name Wirth is ranked the 4,754^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Wirth family to Ireland

Some of the Wirth family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wirth migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wirth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Caspar Wirth, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 9
Conrad Wirth, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 9
Hans Conrad Wirth, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 9
Frederick Wirth, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1760 9
Anna Marg Wirth, who arrived in America in 1789 9

Wirth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel Wirth, aged 19, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 9
Jacob Wirth, aged 22, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 9
Anton Wirth, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 9
Alexander Wirth, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 9
Heinrich Wirth, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1851 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wirth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Emil Jacob Wirth, who arrived in Colorado in 1907 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Wirth (post 1700) +

Louis Wirth (1897-1952), American sociologist
John L. Wirth, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 14 aerial victories
Niklaus Emil Wirth (1934-2024), Swiss computer scientist, known for designing Pascal, winner of the Turing Award in 1984
Hugh John Wirth AM (1939-2018), Australian veterinarian and animal welfare advocate in Victoria, Australia
Wilhelm Wirth (1876-1952), German psychologist
Max Wirth (1822-1900), German journalist and economist
Dr. Karl Joseph Wirth (1879-1956), Chancellor and Finance Minister of Germany
Philip Peter Jacob Wirth (1864-1937), Australian circus proprietor
Wirth Middleton Munroe (1902-1968), American yacht designer

Historic Events for the Wirth family +

Bismarck

Otto Wirth (1918-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10

Citations +

Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details