UK surname
A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "wert," meaning "island" or "raised land."
In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Wert surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #29,646 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Buxted, Halifax and Rainham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wert is 136 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.6%.
1881 census count
28
Ranked #29,646
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1891
136 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Wert surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Wert surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 40 | #26,118 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 28 | #29,646 |
| 1891 | historical | 136 | #19,601 |
| 1901 | historical | 58 | #27,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Buxted, Halifax, Rainham, London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buxted | Sussex |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Rainham | Kent |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Wert surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Wert, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Wert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Wert household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Wert is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wert is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Wert, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname WERT originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "wert," meaning "valuable" or "precious," indicating that the name may have initially referred to a person of high status or wealth.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the WERT surname was Johannes Wert, a German composer who lived from around 1535 to 1596. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the Renaissance era and is renowned for his intricate motets and madrigals.
Another notable figure with the WERT surname was Johann von Wert, a German military commander who lived in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in the Thirty Years' War and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time.
In the 17th century, the surname WERT appeared in various records across German-speaking regions, including the baptismal records of Johannes Wert from Nuremberg in 1623 and the marriage record of Anna Maria Wert in Heidelberg in 1679.
The WERT surname also spread to other parts of Europe, with records showing instances of the name in the Netherlands and Switzerland. For example, Jacob Wert, a Dutch merchant born in 1712, is noted for his successful trading ventures in the East Indies.
In the 19th century, the surname WERT gained prominence in the United States, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was John Wert, a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1825 and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg.
Throughout its history, the WERT surname has been subject to various spellings, such as Werte, Werth, and Wirts, reflecting regional variations and linguistic changes over time. However, the core meaning of the name, derived from the concept of value and preciousness, has remained consistent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wert surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 16 Werts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 16 | 12.03x |
| Durham | 3 | 3.70x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 15.95x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.10x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 16.58x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.29x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clapham in Surrey leads with 6 Werts recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clapham | 6 | 175.95x |
| Farnham | 6 | 582.52x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 19.61x |
| Southwick | 3 | 389.61x |
| Rickmansworth | 2 | 384.62x |
| Battersea | 1 | 9.96x |
| Croydon | 1 | 13.55x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 4.20x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 59.17x |
| Morton | 1 | 500.00x |
| Southwark St Olave | 1 | 476.19x |
| Watford | 1 | 68.49x |
| West Fen | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Wert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Wert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Wert households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coach Maker | 2 |
| Ry Lab | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indr) | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Glass Maker | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Trunk Maker (Box) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Wert surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Wert a modern rank of #36,679.
A surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "wert," meaning "island" or "raised land."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Wert bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.