Surname Oberheuser - Meaning and Origin
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Oberheuser: What does the surname Oberheuser mean?
The last name Oberheuser is of German origin, likely derived from the given name 'Oberon', which means 'lord of the bears'. This is likely referencing the fable character Oberon, who is the fairy king of William Shakespeare’s popular play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The exact etymology of Oberon is unknown, but the closest suggestion is that it comes from the old French 'auber' which means 'noble' or 'lord'. Hence, the surname Oberheuser describes someone noble or regal.
The Oberheuser surname is probably from an old German word 'Heuser' which may have further reference to a “house”. It would suggest a family of 'lords’ of a certain place. Additionally, the 'Ober-' prefix indicates a higher ranking; thus, Oberheuser is the 'lord of the house'.
It has been suggested that the surname Oberheuser derived from the same origin as the last name Heuser, which is a German name meaning “a dweller near a holly bush”. Therefore, the full meaning of the surname Oberheuser would mean “lord near a holly bush”.
The Oberheuser family was first found recorded in the 13th century in northern Germany. The name was found in the surrounding regions of Westphalia, in modern day Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony-Anhalt. The earliest Oberheuser family records found date to 1220.
Overall, the surname Oberheuser is likely derived from the old French/German term 'aubreheuser', which translates to 'lord of the house'. The name appears to have come from an old German word 'Heuser', meaning a “dweller near a holly bush”. Therefore, the full meaning behind the surname Oberheuser would be “lord near a holly bush”.
Order DNA origin analysisOberheuser: Where does the name Oberheuser come from?
The last name Oberheuser is believed to have originated in Germany or the Anglosphere. It is most common in countries such as the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also very common throughout South America and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, Oberheuser is the 10,206th most common surname. In Germany, Oberheuser is the 8,711th most common last name, and in Austria, it is the 4,891st most common.
In Switzerland, researching the roots of the last name suggests that it is most likely derived from the Old German words “ober” and “hayws” which mean high house or farm. There are several variations of the last name such as Obergheiser, Oberheuser, Oberhuser, Oberhauser, and Hieronimus.
In the United Kingdom, Oberheuser is mainly found in the south-east region. It is the 576th commonest surname in Bristol, ranked 422nd most common in London, and the 306th most common in the West Midlands.
In South America, the last name Oberheuser is most common in both Uruguay and Argentina. It is also present in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. In Uruguay, it is the 8,444th most common last name.
Variations of the surname Oberheuser
Oberheuser is a German surname and is usually spelled with two syllables ('Ob-er-hoe-zer'), though other variations can include 'Oberhäuser', 'Oberheyser', 'Oberhoiser', 'Oberhöuser', and 'Öberheuser'.
Oberheuser is most likely derived from the German word "häuser", which means "houses". As such, the name likely originated from someone who lived in a high house or dwelling, such as one found on a hilltop or exposed to greater wind and storm than other dwellings. Over time, the surname became associated with the family living in such a house, and thus the Oberheuser surname was born.
Oberheuser is rare, and other variants and spellings of the same origin can be even less common. In fact, those with the Oberheuser surname today were likely among the first to adopt the name centuries ago.
On top of the many spellings of Oberheuser, its variations can also be found in other surnames such as 'Oberhauser', 'Obersheisser', 'Hobersheiser', 'Oberhäuser', 'Öberhäuser', 'Hoerheiser', 'Berheiser', 'Berhoiser', and 'Hooshorster'.
In the United States, some of the most prominent branches of the tree of the Oberheuser surname include the families descended from Jakob Oberheuser, who immigrated to the U.S. from Bavaria in 1733; and Bartholomew Oberheuser, who immigrated to the U.S. from Prussia in 1854. The Oberheuser surname today is most highly concentrated in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, most likely because of these two early immigrant families.
Famous people with the name Oberheuser
- Dr. Herta Oberheuser: She was a Nazi doctor and war criminal who conducted medical experiments including human voluntary starvation and the injection of deadly materials into the veins of subjects.
- Ulrike Oberheuser: She is a German actress who had supporting roles in the films "Agnes and His Brothers" and "The Red Baron".
- Horst Oberheuser: He is a German bobsledder and Olympian who competed in the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics.
- Editha Oberheuser: She is a German artist who paints in a contemporary expressionist style.
- Rudolf Oberheuser: He was a German politician who served as a member of the Nazi party and joined the SA in 1932.
- Dragutin Oberheuser: He was an Austrian diplomat who held prominent positions in the German government before and during the Second World War.
- Paul Oberheuser: He was a prisoner of war who served time in a German concentration camp.
- Alfred Oberheuser: He was a German geographer and professor who conducted research for the German government in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Maria Oberheuser: She is a German author who wrote novels and children's stories focusing on nature and animals.
- Johannes Oberheuser: He was a Roman Catholic priest who was arrested for his opposition to the Nazi regime.