Wernecke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the Wernecke family

The surname Wernecke was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say before the Norman invasion of 1066.

They were originally a sept of the Grahams (hence the same escallops and colours as the Graham Coat of Arms) and known as the Mac-Gille-Warnocks, and gave their name to the parish of Gaitgillmakkilwernock in Kirkcudbrightshire. The Clan was more properly known as the MacIlvernocks.

Some of the first records of the family include: Robert Warnot (probably the same name) who had a remission for his share in holding Dumbarton Castle against the king in 1489 and Andree Warnoche in Lanark who had a remission in 1505. Later, James Warnok was a witness in Ayrshire in 1562. 1

Early History of the Wernecke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wernecke research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1320, 1489, 1602, 1688 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Wernecke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wernecke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Warnock, MacGilvernock, Warnick, Warnoch, McIlvernock, M'Illvernoche and many more.

Early Notables of the Wernecke family

More information is included under the topic Early Wernecke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wernecke family to Ireland

Some of the Wernecke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wernecke migration to the United States +

Wernecke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Karl Wilhelm Wernecke, who arrived in North America in 1847

Contemporary Notables of the name Wernecke (post 1700) +

R. A. Wernecke, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1928 2
Jean Guillaume Chrétien Wernecke, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 3

The Wernecke Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ne oublie
Motto Translation: Don't forget.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) Jean Wernecke. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html