Wirt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The Wirt 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 Wirt family

The surname Wirt 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 Wirt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wirt 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 Wirt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wirt Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Wirt 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 Wirt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wirt Ranking

In the United States, the name Wirt is the 10,272^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Wirt family to Ireland

Some of the Wirt 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.

Wirt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wirt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Jacob Wirt, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 8
Jacob Wirt, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 8

Wirt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Wirt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1841 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Wirt (post 1700) +

William Albert Wirt (1874-1938), American superintendent of schools in Gary, Indiana who developed the Gary Plan for the more efficient use of school facilities
William Wirt (1772-1834), American author and statesman, 9th United States Attorney General (1817-1829), eponym of Wirt County, West Virginia
Elizabeth Washington Gamble "E.W." Wirt (1784-1857), American author, best known for her book Flora's Dictionary, an alphabetical list of over 200 flowers from acacia rose to zinnia, each with their scientific names
Václav Wirt (1893-1962), Czech gymnast at the 1920 Summer Olympics
James Wirt Newman (b. 1902), American politician, Secretary of State of Ohio, 1883-85
William Wirt Herod (1835-1906), American politician, Candidate for Indiana State Senate, 1866; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1872; Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1879; Candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, 1891 9
William Wirt Gilmer (b. 1955), United States Navy Captain, the 22nd and 24th Naval Governor of Guam
William Wirt Kimball (1848-1930), U.S. naval officer and an early pioneer in the development of submarines
William Wirt Culbertson (1835-1911), American Republican politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives, 1870; Member of Kentucky State Senate, 1873 10
William Wirt Virgin (1823-1893), American politician, Member of Maine State Senate, 1865-66; Justice of Maine State Supreme Court, 1872-93 11

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/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html