Surname Thorwardt - Meaning and Origin
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Thorwardt: What does the surname Thorwardt mean?
The last name Thorwardt is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "thorfarth" which roughly translates to "inward protection". In early Germanic culture, this was linked to military protection of city walls or castles.
In the Middle Ages, the Thorwardt family was an influential aristocratic family noted for their bravery in defense. Their origins can be traced to the small German village of Bielefeld, near Paderborn.
Thorwardt is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, it is also found throughout the Midwest in cities with connections to Germany.
As a given name, Thorwardt is mostly used as a variation of its original form Torfarth, to honor the bravery of the family that it is derived from. The name is often used as a first or middle name to show admiration for the legendary Thorwardt family. Though the name has become a common name, its original significance still stands as a symbol of strength, protection, and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisThorwardt: Where does the name Thorwardt come from?
Thorwardt is a name mainly found in German-speaking countries, although there are a few instances of it showing up in other European countries. In Germany, the highest concentration of the name is found in the state of Saxony. The eastern German city of Leipzig has the highest number of Thorwardts in the country with 274 individuals having the name in 2017. The next highest concentrations are in Berlin (164 individuals) and Bavaria (130 individuals).
Outside of Germany, the name is found in small numbers in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Austria.
Within the United States, the name is much less common. In 2017, only 6 individuals had the name. This low number is because most Americans with the last name Thorwardt immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As such, their descendants would have taken on more traditional American surnames, such as Smith and Robinson.
Thorwardt is a very old German name and is unlikely to expand much beyond its current borders. Although some Thorwardts may be found in other countries, it remains confined primarily to Germany and its immediate neighbors.
Variations of the surname Thorwardt
The different variants, spellings and surnames of Thorwardt all have the same origin. Thorwardt is a German surname, with the first syllable ‘Thor’ meaning thunder or thunder god and the second syllable 'wardt' meaning guard, protect or watch over.
The most commonly used variants of Thorwardt include Thorward, Thorwerd, Thourwood, Thorewood, Thorwald, Thorwold, Thorwood, Thorewart, Thorwart, Thorwartt, Thorvort, and Thorvart.
Less used variants of Thorwardt include Thoreward, Thorwarde, Thorwort, Tillwardt, Tillwort, Tilward, Tillwor, Tillword, Thialwort, Tyeldward, Thialwart, Thierwart, Thierwald, Thyerwort, and Tyldwyrt.
Surnames from other languages with similar origins to Thorwardt include Thurawardt (Old Norse), Thurward (Old English), Tuarvart (Irish Gaelic), Tvarde (Polish), Tuarvart (Irish Gaelic), and Turberd (French).
Overall, the variants and spellings of Thorwardt are extensive, though they all have similar origins. Variants are common and can be seen in various countries, while the main spelling remains Thorwardt in Germany.
Famous people with the name Thorwardt
- Gabriel Thorwardt: A German musical artist, Gabriel Thorwardt is the son of legendary singer/songwriter Udo Lindenberg.
- Niklas Thorwardt: German comedian and actor Niklas Thorwardt is popular for his roles in movies like “Tatort” or “Der Totenwinkel”.
- Eike Thorwardt: An actress, Eike Thorwardt is the daughter of the famous German director Bernd Eichinger, known for films “Downfall” or “Nosferatu”.
- Markus Thorwardt: A soccer player, German national, Under 19 and Handball Bundesliga player Markus Thorwardt is known for helping his team advance in the the Upper Bavarian league.
- Nicolas Thorwardt: Well-known for his collaborations with various major labels in the music industry, Nicolas Thorwardt is a record producer from Germany.
- Frank Thorwardt: German actor, singer and director, Frank Thorwardt is known for acting in movies such as “The American” and “Im Westen”.
- Alfons Thorwardt: Alfons Thorwardt is known for being the president of Bavaria's largest business federation.
- Henning Thorwardt: Henning Thorwardt is a German movie director and actor, best known for films like “Tanzexpress” and “Taxi auf Abruf”.
- Philipp Thorwardt: Philipp Thorwardt is a political scientist from Germany and a member of the Russelheim commission on education.
- Janina Thorwardt: Janina Thorwardt is a German artist, designer and photographer.