Surname Sorge - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling the Sorge Lineage: An Introspective Adventure with iGENEA DNA Test

Receiving my iGENEA DNA test results was an enlightening experience. The revelations about the origin and meaning of my surname, Sorge, and their impact on my perspectives about personal identity and heritage have been transformative. The journey from abstract notions about my ancestry to concrete data was empowering, connecting me profoundly with my past and broadening my sense of identity to embrace diversity within me.

T. Sorge

Sorge: What does the surname Sorge mean?

The last name Sorge is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German surname Sorge, which means “care” or “concern.” It is thought to have originated in the Rhineland area of central and western Germany, near the modern cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne. The surname is most commonly found among families of German descent, but is found worldwide, among people of various cultural backgrounds.

The Sorge surname first appeared in records in the 17th century, at the time of the Thirty Years War. Members of the German nobility with the Sorge surname were known to have served in the armies of both Protestant and Catholic sides of this lengthy conflict. During this period, some Sorge families adopted new surnames, as they were forced to relocate due to displacement caused by the war.

The meaning of the name may have been expanded in later generations, to represent not only care and concern, but also courage and strength of fortitude. This is a common interpretation among many Germanic surnames that end in “ge” or “ke.” Such an interpretation may have been strengthened by those with the surname who fought bravely during the conflicts of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Regardless of the meaning that was eventually ascribed to the name, one thing is certain: the Sorge family today is proud of its shortened version of its rich and meaningful heritage.

Sorge: Where does the name Sorge come from?

The last name Sorge is commonly found in German-speaking countries today, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is not known exactly how many people share this last name, but in Germany alone there are estimated to be more than 9,000 people with the surname Sorge.

The surname Sorge is derived from the Old German word "sorgen," which means to take care of or to take charge of something. It is thought to be an occupational name, referring to people who held the responsibility for taking care of duties for higher ranking people or institutions.

The surname Sorge is most commonly found in the German region of Bavaria, but there are also concentrations of the name in other parts of the country as well as in Austria and Switzerland. The largest concentration of the surname, however, is found in the village of Sorge, a small municipality in Saxony located in the former East Germany.

The name Sorge is also found in other parts of the world, particularly where German-speaking immigrants established roots. Examples include Australia, the USA, Canada, and New Zealand. It can also be found in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.

Variations of the surname Sorge

Sorge is an Old German surname that is still quite popular across Europe and the United States today. In its most common spelling, this surname is pronounced "sor-GAY" and associated with the Low Germanic or Old High German word for "darkness" or "danger".

The alternate spellings of Sorge can include Sorg, Sorgan, and Sorgann. Other variants of the name are Sorgmann, Sorger, Sorgg, Sorghe, Sorgher, Sorgue, Sorgues, Sorguet, and Sorgus.

In addition to the variants of the surname Sorge, there are also surnames that are related to the same origin. In some areas of Germany, the word "Sorge" is associated with the verb "sorgen," which means "to take care" or "be concerned for." Therefore, Sorgenfrei, Sorgenfrey, Sorgenbrecht, and Sorgens are all surnames derived from this root. Similarly, in other parts of Germany, Sorge is associated with "Sorgen," which stands for "sorrel," and is related to the French roots from which "sorer" and "sorrel" both emerged. This means that Sorer and Sorrel are variants of the same name.

In the U.S., the popularity of the Sorge surname tends to be associated with descendants of Low German-speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, in particular those coming from the Prussian-influenced areas of Pomerania and Brandenburg, or in Wisconsin with settlers from the Rhineland.

Famous people with the name Sorge

• Richard Sorge: German spy for Soviet Military Intelligence during WWII.
• Zach Sorge: Professional baseball player.
• Monte Sorge: English professional football (soccer) player
• Elmar Sorge: Professional mixed martial artist.
• Kurt Sorge: Professional mountain biker.
• Annemarie Sorge: German 224m long distance runner.
• Gisela Sorge: German record holding field hockey player.
• Klaus Sorge: German Olympic modern pentathlete.
• Maria Sorge: Italian Olympic cross-country skier.
• Tony Sorge: Former Australian rules footballer.
• Erich Sorge: German mathematician and physicist.
• Günter Sorge: German songwriter and author.
• Johannes Sorge: German painter and lithographer.
• Simon Sorge: British scriptwriter and playwright.
• Wilhelm Sorge: German obstetrician and gynecologist.
• Willy Sorge: German World War II propaganda photographer.

Other surnames

SorgSorgenfreiSorgenitSorgerSorgnitSorgnitt