An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Werder
Werder, masculine, ‘small island in a river,’ from Middle High German węrt (d), masculine, ‘island, peninsula,’ Old High German węrid, warid, feminine, ‘island.’ Corresponding to Anglo-Saxon waroð, ‘bank, shore,’ with Anglo-Saxon wœr, Old Icelandic ver, neuter, ‘sea’ (for the meaning compare Au). Its primitive kinship with Sanscrit vâr, ‘water,’ is not certain.