The Wurzer family (f.k.a. der Wurzer von Wurz) was an old Upper Palatinate noble family that previously belonged to the uradel in the Nordgau. The family first appeared in the 11th century as imperial ministerials (reichministeriales) of the Holy Roman Emperor. The earliest reference to the family is from an imperial register in 1069 AD, which mentions the ancestral estate of Wrzaha (the modern-day village of Wurz near Neustadt an der Waldnaab). The first known ancestor was Cunradus de Wourz, the ministeriale (dienstmann) documented in 1219 AD. Throughout the following three centuries, the family served as knights (milites), ministeriales, and castellans (burgmanner) to the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg, and later served as castle administrators (pfleger) to Emperor Charles IV. By the end of the 15th century, the main branch of the family went extinct in the male line, and most of the family’s land holdings and wealth transferred to the Mendel von Steinfels family through marriage. Around the same time, the cadet branches of the family began to experience financial and legal difficulties, and started to recede into the landed gentry. Beginning in the 16th century up until the present, their descendants can be found in the house books (hauserbucher) of Helmut Reis, the family books of Roggenstein, and also in the Regensburg diocese baptismal records. Here they are recorded as wealthy estate-owners (Großbauern) and hereditary farmers, still living in their original fief villages in and around Wurz, more than 950 years after the first mention of the estate.
History
Origin and variants of the name Little is known about the early history of the Wurzer (von Wurz) family prior to the 13th century (see Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, "a little known family"). The family appears to have originally resided in Lower Bavaria but eventually migrated north into the uncultivated frontiers of the Nordgau. This move likely came at the behest of the bishopric in order to take part in forest clearing and in the Christianization of the Slavic settlers.
After migrating into the Nordgau, the family settled at Wurz near Neustadt an der Waldnaab, which would become their eponymous ancestral seat. According to local chronicler Christoph Schulze, the estate of Wurz is first mentioned as the fortified settlement Wrzaha in an imperial document in 1069 AD. In this document, King Heinrich IV hands over the praedium of Wrzaha, in his margraviate in the Nortgowe district (Nordgau), to Bishop Hermann of Bamberg and his church. While there are no remnants of the medieval fortification, there exists a ring-shaped structure on a hill east of Wurz, called the Loherl, that may have been part of the original Celtic oppidum upon which the later fortification may have been built.
In regards to etymology, one theory states that the place name is derived from the word compound ‘Dvur’ (Slavic for hof) + ‘Drozza’ in reference to the ministeriale Drozza family. According to this theory, the von Wurz family were descendants of the earlier Drozza (Babenberg) clan who settled around Bamberg. The Drozza were one of the five original Bavarian noble families which are mentioned in the Lex Baiuvariorum in the 8th century. Over time, the difficult to pronounce Dvur Drozza was Germanicized as Wrzaha. Eventually, Wrzaha was shortened to its current form of Wurz.
The spelling of the family name continually changed and evolved throughout the 12th-16th centuries: de Wourz, de Wrtz, de Wurz, von Wurz, von Wurtz, der Wurzer von Wurz, Wurtzer, Wurczer, Wurzzer, Wurzer. As is customary with nobiliary particles, the initial use of the Latin ‘de’, and later the German ‘von’ (meaning ‘of’), preceded the place of origin (i.e., von Wurz). Later the ancestral name became fixed (i.e., der Wurzer, meaning ‘the Wurzer’ or ‘the ones from Wurz’). In the 1300s, as family members were granted fiefs outside of Wurz, the place of origin was followed by the current place of residence (i.e., der Wurzer zu Kaimling, der Wurzer zu Kemaden, der Wurzer zu Ruprechtsreut, der Wurzer zum Stornstein). By the late 1400s, the family were no longer counted among the nobility and the 'von' and 'zu' were eventually dropped. By the 1500s, ‘true’ surnames became commonplace throughout what is now Germany and the family name was simplified as Wurtzer or Wurzer.
Imperial affiliations From the 11th to the 13th centuries, the von Wurz family appears to have had an immediate relationship to the Empire as seen by the fact that the emperor himself sealed the document in 1069 transferring what was once the family’s allodium into the possession of the bishop of Bamberg. One of the earliest references to specific members of the family is 'Cunradus de Wourz in 1219.'Regesta imperii. 5,1,1: Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs unter Philipp, Otto IV., Friedrich II., Heinrich (VII.), Conrad IV., Heinrich Raspe, Wilhelm und Richard 1198 - 1272; 1, Kaiser und Könige; ', Image 1 of 751 | MDZ (digitale-sammlungen.de) He and his relatives are mentioned in a lawsuit over land and payments brought against him by Abbot Hermann of the Waldsassen Monastery. Once again, a member of the imperial court intercedes personally, as King Friedrich II rules in favor of the monastery and forbids the von Wurz family from attacking the people of the monastery by judicial duel (gerichtszweikampf). In the service to the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg It is difficult to ascertain whether it was due to a weakening stance with the Empire or the imperial preference for the monasteries, but it is clear that the von Wurz family began to distance themselves from the Empire and more closely associate themselves with the regional power structures, namely the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg. In 1252, Heinricus et Conradus de Wrz are listed as witnesses for Friedrich and Gebhart, the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg, at Falkenberg Castle. The service to the landgraves soon became a family affair, as it can be seen that in addition to Heinricus and Conradus, eventually also Gotfridus de Wurz, Gotfridus von Wurz, Albertus von Wurz, Lewe der Wurzer, Hans der Wurzer, Konrad der Wurzer and Ulrich Wurtzer are listed as witnesses for or having affiliations with the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg on numerous occasions:
1275: Gotfridus de Wurz is listed as a witness in an arbitration between the Landgrave Gebhard's servant Heinrich von Trautenberg and the Waldsassen Abbey. 1277: Gotfridus de Wurz is listed as a witness for Gebhard, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg, in a property sale between Gottfried vom Teich and the Waldsassen Abbey. In this instance, Gotfridus is listed as milites or knight. 1279: Gotfridus de Wurze is listed as a witness for Friedrich and Gebhard, Landgraves of Leuchtenberg as they transfer several properties as a gift from Ulrich von Pfrimbt to the Waldsassen Abbey. 1279: Gotfrid von Wurz is listed a second time as miles with Gebhard and Friedrich, Langraves of Leuchtenberg. In this instance, Gotfrid's two sons, Albert and Gotfrid, are present. 1283: Gotfridus von Wurz is listed as a witness for Heinrich, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg, as he transfers fiefs to Bishop Reimboto von Eystetten. In this document Gotfrid is listed along with several members of the Teutonic Order: Brother Hermannus, Brother Heinricus, Brother Franko, Brother H. de Monecheruthe, Brother Chunradus de Plawe, Brother Albertus Heckil. 1291: Gottfried von Wurz is listed as a witness for Gebhard, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg, as he pledges Falkenberg Castle to the Waldsassen Abbey. 13th Century: Gottfried von Wurz is listed as a witness in a charter for Ronung von Cammerstein as he gives property to the St. Katharinen Hospital.
On 14 March 1347 the Wurzers are listed in a dispute with the Landgraves of Leuchtenberg over fishing waters. In this same document, the Wurzers are also seen to be in a disagreement with the Steiners, and are ordered to resolve the issue in front of their officials or whomever they choose to do so.
At the apex of the influence of the family, Lewe (also Leo or Leb) der Wurzer states in a document that his dwelling in Hag, which he received as a fief, is an open house for Ulrich and Johann, Landgraves of Leuchtenberg. In 1360, in Nuremberg, Emperor Charles IV as King of Bohemia, on behalf of Ulrich Drezwitzer, gives Leben Wurzer and the heirs of Ulrich's daughter (Leo’s children), the wilderness of Albern as a fief. Additionally, Leo Wurzer is listed in the following documents:
1364: Leo (Wurzer) is listed as the Vicar of St. Johann in Regensburg and the Supreme Brotherhood Master in a document along with members of the Teutonic Order.Die Urkunden-Regesten des Kollegiatstiftes U. L. Frau zur alten Kapelle in Regensburg (heimatforschung-regensburg.de) Leo was also a member of the Cathedral Chapter of St. Emmeram in Regensburg. 1366: Lebe von Stornstein (Wurzer) is listed as a witness for Hanyk von Knoblauchsdorf, Supreme Captain of the Holy Roman Emperor, in a dispute between the villagers of Etzreut and the Waldsassen Monastery. 1372: Lew der Wurzer is listed as the pfleger (caretaker) of Donaustauf Castle (which was owned by Emperor Charles IV at this time) and a witness of a property sale between Chonrat der Chrn zu Tomstauff (Donaustauf) and Hartwig den Fischer Burger. 1373: Leben den Wurzer is listed as a witness for Konrad der Prukker von Schwabelweis, as he announces that he has been awarded with the wine office by Abbot Alto zu St. Emmeram. 1380: Leo v. W. listed as a witness in Rothenburg (Weissbecker). Leo’s son Hans is listed in the following documents:
Late-1300s: According to 'Die alteren Mendel von Steinfels, Hans von Wurtz zu Ruprechtsreut, son of Leo Wurzer von Wurz, sold the Hammer Steinfels in 1415 to Hans Mendel. In 1429, Hans Mendel gave the Hammer Steinfels to his son Erhard Mendel. Hans Wurtz's daughter, Utta Wurzer von Wurz, married the knight Erhard Mendel. In addition to the Hammer Steinfels, Erhard received the Forsthube of Ruprechtsreut and the Lintach from his father-in-law, Hans Wurtz. Hans Wurtz is listed as the last of his lineage and is granted permission by Emperor Friedrich III in 1444 to transfer his coat of arms to his grandsons, Hans and Wilhelm Mendel. On 7 June 1454 Hans Wurtz’s son-in-law Erhard Mendel was accepted by the emperor to compete in the tournament and given the title "Mendel von Steinfels". Knight Erhard Mendel von Steinfels would go on to have another son, Christoph, who would become the Bishop of Chiemsee. Hans Wurzer zu Rupersreuth is listed in the following report of the Hofgericht and ParksteinLorship: "Every two months you may have a district court in Parkstein that has a district judge of lordship, with the following noblemen in the lordship sitting together, these are the following lords, Georg Zenger zu Rothenstadt, Otto Schongraser zu Mospurg, Hans Rackendorfer zu Ullersreut, Hans Wurzer zu Rupprechtsreut, Konrad Erbeck zu Parckstein, Hans Gleissenthaler zu Teltsch, Ulrich Gleissenthaler Burghutter, Hans Lamprecht zu Kalmreut und zu Mairhof and Hans Eteldorfer zum Parkstein, all nine are of the nobility”.
Other Lineages In addition to the main family branch which resided at Wurz, the following are related lineages who maintained residency away from Wurz:
Stornstein Line 1240: Reinhardus de Wrtze is listed in the Urbarium Vicedominatus Lengenuelt as having purchased several fields and an estate in Sitzmannsdorf and a mill-house below the Stornstein Castle.