Surname Obermair - Meaning and Origin
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Obermair: What does the surname Obermair mean?
The last name Obermair is derived from an Old German word meaning "above" or "superior". Primarily found in the German-speaking areas of Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany, this name is believed to have been an occupational name for someone who was a nobleman or “superior” or senior officer in the local feudal hierarchy. In fact, the Obermair surname can trace its origins to a noble named Helfrich, whose sons adopted the surname “Oberman” in the Middle Ages. The Obermair surname first appears numerously in records of the area in 1396, with the first known records of an Obermair being a knight of the court of Vienna in 1478.
The name spread over time to other regions of Europe, including the Netherlands, France, and Northern Italy. The name suffered significant loss during the 19th and 20th centuries due to both socioeconomic and political changes which made it difficult for many families to remain in the same area as a lengthy period of time. This caused some Obermair families to move to new locations including the United States, where substantial numbers of Obermairs remain today.
Today, the surname is believed to be held by around 3,000 people in Austria, 2,000 in Germany and smaller numbers in countries such as Australia, the UK, South Africa and Argentina. The common spelling variants of the Obermair surname include: Obermayer, Ober Meier, Obermeyer, Obersmair, and Obersmaier.
Order DNA origin analysisObermair: Where does the name Obermair come from?
The last name Obermair is most commonly found in Austria and Germany. It is derived from the German word "Oberman", which means "upper man". It is believed to have been an occupational surname, given to people who held an important or influential position in their community.
Obermair families are found mainly in the regions of Bavaria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, and Upper Austria. It is estimated that there are currently about 3,000 people living in Austria with the last name Obermair. In Germany, it is believed that the surname is even more common, with an estimated 6,700 people living in a variety of cities throughout the country.
Outside of these two countries, the surname Obermair is found in very small numbers in other parts of Europe, especially in the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The Obermair name is also occasionally found in the United States and Canada, though it is much rarer. In addition to Europe, the surname is also found abroad, particularly in Australia, where a sizable number of Obermair families have settled over the years.
Overall, the surname Obermair is most commonly associated with Austria and Germany and it remains in use in these countries today.
Variations of the surname Obermair
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Obermair are Obermayer, Obermeier, Obermayr, Obermeyer, and Obermaier.
Obermair is a German surname, and it originates from the word ‘mair’, which was a title for a village mayor or foreman. Variations of the surname include Obermayer, Obermeier, Obermayr, Obermeyer, and Obermaier.
The Obermair spelling of the surname is thought to have originated in Bavaria, and has since spread to other areas of Germany.
Obermayer is the most common variation, with Obermeier being the second most common. Obermayr is also common, with Obermeyer and Obermaier being the less common variants.
The spelling of the name can be slightly altered depending on dialect, so the spelling of the name in some regions may differ slightly from the main spelling.
The surnames are derived from the same origin but can differ in spelling even though they sound identical when spoken. As a result, it is important to remember that surnames may have multiple spellings, surnames, and variants across different regions and dialects.
Although the origin of the surname is Germanic, it is now found across the world, particularly in countries with large Germanic communities such as the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Obermair
- Nils Obermair, German football player
- David Obermair, Austrian master woodworker
- Anton Obermair, Lieutenant Commander in the Kriegsmarine during World War II
- Toni Obermair, Austrian Fashion Designer
- Hugo Obermair, Professor Emeritus of Statistics at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
- Maximilian Obermair, German ski-jumper
- Stefan Obermair, German actor
- Robert Obermair, Austrian painter and sculptor
- Johannes Obermair, Austrian sculptor and artist
- Sybille Obermair, German writer