Surname Oberauer - Meaning and Origin
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Oberauer: What does the surname Oberauer mean?
The last name Oberauer is believed to have originated in Germany. It is a combination of two German words: "Ober," meaning "upper" or "above" and "Auer," meaning "heather" or "heath." It could mean "above the heather" or "above the heath" and could refer to a area of land located on a higher elevation than the surrounding land. The name may also have referred to people who were strong enough to carry burdens over rough, heather-covered terrain.
Today, Oberauer is an uncommon but widespread surname throughout Germany and Austria. It can also be found in small numbers scattered throughout other countries such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. It has even become established to some degree in Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines.
Oberauer is also a commonly used surname amongst people of Jewish ancestry, with some families having converted to Christianity generations ago. It is believed that this name became prominent among Jewish people in the 18th and 19th centuries when many Jews emigrated to Central Europe because of persecution in their homeland.
Oberauer is a unique and intriguing last name that reflects centuries of fascinating history, and is both relevant and recognizable around the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisOberauer: Where does the name Oberauer come from?
The last name Oberauer is most commonly found today in Austria and Germany. It is also less common but still present in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Croatia.
The surname appears to have originated from the area around Lake Constance, located in south-western Germany. This is confirmed by records dating back to 1546 that list inhabitants of the area with the surname and the fact that the vast majority of current Oberauers in Europe live in Germany and Austria.
The early migration patterns of Oberauer households strongly indicate that the surname derives from German, specifically Bavarian and Swabian dialects. It is thought to be composed of the German words ob meaning 'above' or 'over' and the plural form of the word 'Auer' - which translates as 'meadow' or 'pasture'. Therefore, the name can be interpreted to mean 'over the meadow', likely describing a family that lived over or beyond a meadow or pasture.
Although Oberauer is not a particularly common last name today, this doesn’t stop many of those bearing it from taking great pride in their heritage. In some cases, those bearing the name continue to do so in the same area that it originated from centuries ago, whilst others have moved all around the world.
Variations of the surname Oberauer
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Oberauer are Oberour, Oberauer, Oberawer, Oberower, Oberawor, Oberour, Oberrauer, Oberauer, Oberower, Oberawer, Oberawer and Oberauer.
Oberauer is an old German surname, which can be traced back to the 14th century. The name is believed to have its origins in the Middle-High German language and could have multiple interpretations depending on the region, such as a “dweller on a hill”, a “ruler of an estate” or the “lord of the manor”.
The spelling of the surname has changed several times as languages developed over the years. The surname is often spelled Oberauer, Oberawer, Oberower, or Oberawor. The surname can also be found with other spellings, such as Oberrauer, Oberower, Oberour, and Oberour.
The variations in the spelling of the surname may have been due to dialectical differences as the surname moved through different regions. The migration of people also played a role in the different spellings as records of the name were often written down by people who did not speak German.
The name is common in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. It is also found in some areas of France, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the census of 2000 listed 48 people with the surname Oberauer, with the majority living in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The frequency of the surname is very low in the United States, with only 0.0002 percent of the population bearing the name.
Famous people with the name Oberauer
- Dr. Chris Oberauer: Austrian medical doctor who published research on the effects of climate change on people’s physical and mental health.
- Karl Oberauer: Austrian-American sculptor, known for his abstract bronze and marble sculptures, that have been exhibited in the US and Europe.
- Ed Oberauer: American poet and professor of English at the University of Virginia. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2010 for his book Prismatic Ground.
- Stefan Oberauer: Austrian ski jumper who competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.
- Peter Oberauer: Austrian former bobsledder who competed in the early 1980s.
- Johanna Oberauer: Austrian rower who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the lightweight women's double sculls.
- Yvonne Oberauer: Austrian sprint canoer who competed in the mid-2010s and won bronze in the women's K-4 500 m event at the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
- Nick Oberauer: American venture capitalist and investor who also is an active philanthropist and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations.
- Gertrude Oberauer: German physicist who wrote several books about the effects of radiation on organisms.
- August Oberauer: Austrian entomologist, known for his work on the anatomy and physiology of insects.