Werendell

Most surnames have a fairly obvious source, some names are difficult to research, and a few others defy any logical explanation. This surname does not quite come into the later category, but its origins are by no means proven. The spelling would suggest a Germanic origin and that it is locational from some minor or possibly 'lost' medieval place in one of the predominently German speaking countries such as The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland or Germany itself. This may well be so, but we have not been able to positively identify any such a place. Furthermore the recordings of the surname in the spelling of Werendel have defied our best efforts to find suitable recordings in any of these countries. This may be because there simply are no recordings, or more likely that the spelling has changed, and has not been recognized by us. In Germany there is a surname recorded as Werendorff of Westfalen which would suggest a very close similarity. The word 'were' is similar to the English 'weir' and means an island or obstruction in a river, so Werendell may mean the enclosure or wood (dell) on the river island. Curiously the nearest recording of some antiquity is in England, where George Weresdell is recorded at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney. London, on September 2nd 1701.