würdig

Würdig is a German surname that also corresponds to the adjective würdig, meaning "worthy" or "deserving." The name is typically traced to the linguistic roots of the German word, reflecting a common practice of creating surnames from personal qualities or occupations. In historical records, Würdig and its variants arose as a descriptive byname that later became a hereditary surname.

Pronunciation and spelling variants: In German, Würdig is pronounced roughly as [ˈvɪʁdɪç]. In non-German contexts, the umlaut may be rendered as Wuerdig or Wuertdig, and other spellings such as Wurdig or Wuerdig may appear in archival documents or on immigration records. These variants reflect standard practices for rendering umlauts in ASCII texts and across different languages.

Geographic distribution and usage: Würdig is most commonly found in German-speaking regions, including Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Smaller families with the surname can be found in other parts of Europe and in countries with German diaspora communities, such as the United States and Canada. As with many German surnames derived from adjectives, concentrations often correlate with historical settlement patterns rather than with a specific known lineage.

Notable bearers and cultural usage: There are no widely recognized public figures whose surname Würdig is prominent in major reference works. The name may appear in genealogical records, regional histories, and local registries. In general usage, würdig remains an ordinary German adjective meaning "worthy," used independently of the surname context.

See also: Würde, Württemberg, German surnames derived from adjectives.