Show ContentsWorm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Worm

What does the name Worm mean?

The name Worm can derive from either the German term "Würmchen" for a small mite, or from "Wurm" the Middle High German and Middle Low German word for snake or dragon. The surname may have originated from a nickname inspired by a physical attribute or character trait of the bearer. Or it may have been patronymic, derived from the personal name of the father. In this case the personal name would have been the Old Germanic "Wurm," a name rarely in usage today.

Early Origins of the Worm family

The surname Worm was first found in Germany. The name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. The surname dates back to the 13th century in Württemberg, where Gumpold Wurm was recorded in 1232 and Heinrich dictus Wurm in 1296. In 1269, Johan dictus Worm (Vermis) resided in Hamburg. Hans Wurm was a tailor in 1491, and Wolfgang Worm was a resident of Guben in Saxony in 1530.

Early History of the Worm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worm research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1576, 1670, 1673, 1689, 1783, 1816, 1834 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Worm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worm Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wurm, Worm, Wurmb, Wörmke, Wörmbke and others.

Early Notables of the Worm family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Worm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worm Ranking

In the United States, the name Worm is the 14,143rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Worm migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Worm Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Worm, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2
  • John Hendrick Worm, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
Worm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • August Worm, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1893 2


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook