Surname Oberfeld - Meaning and Origin
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Oberfeld: What does the surname Oberfeld mean?
The last name Oberfeld is a German surname that originated during Medieval times. It derives from two words: 'Ober' meaning 'upper' and 'feld' meaning 'field', both referring to areas of land. More specifically, it referred to an area of pastureland above a village or town.
In Middle High German, the adjective 'Ober-' was commonly used in place-names to denote the highest point or the top of a mountain. Later, it was used to refer to any elevated area of land, such as pastureland. This is where the name Oberfeld originates from.
It is likely that those originally bearing the name Oberfeld were landowners who owned pastureland in areas above villages or towns. This allowed them to be afforded higher levels of respect due to their greater affluence, and was a prominent indicator of how wealthy they were.
Given that the name originated from German-speaking areas, the name Oberfeld remains most widely used in Europe. It is most common in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, though it is also used in some other European countries.
The name Oberfeld carries a rich history and conveys a sense of wealth and prestige. Those bearing this name can trace their roots back to the medieval times of flourishment and privilege.
Order DNA origin analysisOberfeld: Where does the name Oberfeld come from?
The last name Oberfeld is of German origin and is most common in German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in other parts of Europe, including Poland and Scandinavia.
The name may be derived from the Middle High German oberfeld, which refers to an upper area of a field that was at a higher elevation or received more sunshine. Oberfeld is occasionally found as a surname in the United States, especially in large cities with established German-American populations.
According to the United States Census Bureau, there were approximately 173 people with the last name Oberfeld in the United States in 2020. The majority of these individuals reside in the states of Illinois, Texas, and New York.
Oberfeld is an uncommon surname in all countries, and it is not found in the top 1000 last names in any country. In the United States, the name is even more rare, with a ranking of #19,138 out of 887,795 total names. In Germany, it is the 12,721st most common name.
Oberfeld may be less common today, but examples of Oberfelds have made their mark in history. Gerson Oberfeld was a prominent Holocaust survivor whose testimony is still remembered today. And Karl Oberfeld was a German artist who became the leader of the Expressionist movement in the 1920s. Oberfeld may be a rare name, but its holders have had a lasting impact.
Variations of the surname Oberfeld
The Oberfeld surname is of German and Jewish origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "ober", which means "upper". It is found most often in the southwestern region of Germany, particularly in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg and Thuringia.
Variants and spellings of the Oberfeld surname include: Oberfel, Oberfelder, Oberfields, Oberfield, Oberfell, Obergfel, Obergfeller, Obergfell, Oerfel, Oerfell, Ueberfel, Überfel, Ueberfeld, Überfeld, Ueberfeller, Überfeller, Ueberfell, Überfell, Obervel and Übervel.
Other related surnames with the same origin include Aberfeld, Aberfield, Aberfelt, Abberfeld, Abbfelt, Eberfeld, Eberfel, Eberfelder, Eberfield, Eberfelt and Joberfield.
Oberfeld is also a common Jewish surname. Variants spelling and spellings of this surname include Oberfel, Oberfels, Oberfield, Oberfiel, Oberfiele, Obergel, Obergels, Obergfel, Obergfels, Obergfield, Obergfiel, Obergfiele, Ueberfel, Überfel, Ueberfeld, Überfeld, Ueberfels, Überfels, Ueberfield, Überfield, Ueberfiel, Überfiel, Ueberfiele and Überfiele. Other related surnames with the same origin include Aberfeld, Aberfels, Aberfield, Aberfiel, Aberfiele, Abberfeld, Abbfel, Abbfels, Abbfield, Abbfiel, Abbfiele, Eberfeld, Eberfel, Eberfels, Eberfield, Eberfiel, Eberfiele and Joberfield.
Famous people with the name Oberfeld
- Ferdinand Oberfeld: A German diplomat who served as consul in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was a recipient of the Order of Merit.
- Suzanne Oberfeld: An American TV host and business executive, best known for producing and designing the Emmy-winning show “Designing Women.”
- Spencer Oberfeld: A professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1930-1935.
- Shoshana Oberfeld: A famous Israeli actress who appeared in the famous film “Hezbollah Fighters” in the mid-90s.
- Henry Oberfeld: A United States Navy rear admiral who commanded the USS Bainbridge and received two awards for meritorious service.
- Jean Oberfeld: A French philosopher and author of several books on the nature of perception.
- David Oberfeld: An Austrian-American psychotherapist and the author of the book “Dancing with the Inner Self.”
- Michael Oberfeld: An American television and film writer and producer, who co-created the hit HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.
- Andrew Oberfeld: A Jewish-American music producer and songwriter, who has written and produced several memorable songs and albums.
- Paul Oberfeld: A German author and medieval historian, who has written several books on medieval art and architecture.