Surname Obermühlner - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Obermühlner: What does the surname Obermühlner mean?
The last name Obermühlner is a surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the German words 'ober' meaning upper or high, and 'mühl', meaning mill. It could be a topographic name for someone living on or near a high mill, or occupational name for someone who worked in or owned such a mill. The name may also have been derived from the regional dialect term 'molt', meaning grain husks, a word often found in graffiti at mills.
The surname is found mostly in southeastern Germany and Austria, although it could have origins in more than one place. It could also have Swedish, Norwegian or Czech origins, as there are variants of the name found in those areas. For example, a variant of the last name can be found in Swedish as 'Öbermöllner' and in Czech as 'Obermülln'.
The surname probably originated in a small rural area where governing documents or official records were not kept. For this reason, it is very difficult to trace the ancestry or the origin of the name. However, what is known is that the surname has been around for centuries, as evidenced by parish church records from the classical period.
At the present time, people bearing the last name of Obermühlner lives in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, among other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisObermühlner: Where does the name Obermühlner come from?
The last name Obermühlner is most commonly associated with Austria, especially with the region of Steiermark. This surname originates from the German language and translates to ‘above or over the miller.’ Evidence suggests that people originally bearing this name likely worked as skilled millers near strong water bodies, such as rivers and streams, which held enough power to turn the wheel of the mill and grind grains.
This surname is still quite popular in Austria and surrounding countries, such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Netherlands. As a result of internal and external migration patterns, the last name Obermühlenner can also be found across other parts of Europe, though in much smaller numbers. This includes Great Britain, Spain, Norway and Sweden, as well as countries further afield such as Australia, the United States and Canada. There are even some records of the surname in South Africa.
Despite its geographic dispersion, the last name Obermühlner is still primarily associated with Austria. Both the city of Vienna and the surrounding region of Voitsberg continue to harbour the largest populations of people bearing this name.
Overall, the last name Obermühlner is still very much alive in Austria and certain countries in Europe, but it can also be found in more distant places owing to the dispersal of its original inhabitants.
Variations of the surname Obermühlner
The surname Obermühlner is a German topographic surname, which was used to describe someone from the village of Obermühlner in Niederösterreich, Austria. It is a variant spelling of the surname Ober-Mühlner, with the prefix Ober- translating to ‘above’ or ‘upper’ and Mühlner referring to someone living in a mill or working in a mill. The variants of the surname Obermühlner include:
Obermueller: the most common variant of Obermühlner, with the same meaning.
Obermoeler: another variant spelling, also with the same meaning.
Obermoller: a variant spelling that is also commonly used, having the same meaning.
Obermuhler: another variant spelling, with the same meaning.
Obermühler: the original spelling, used to describe someone from the village of Obermühlner.
The surnames of the same origin as Obermühlner include Müller, Moller, Muhler, Moeller, Mueller, Muehler, and Muellner. All of these surnames are derived from the same German root of ‘Muhl’ and mean ‘inhabitant of a mill’. Aside from the variant spellings, these surnames, while having similar meanings, have a slightly different geographical origin. They were used to describe someone from other parts of Germany and Austria; namely, Germersheim in Bavaria, and Hatzendorf in Styria, respectively.
Famous people with the name Obermühlner
- Stefan Obermühlner: Austrian footballer
- Michael Obermühlner: German entrepreneur and author
- Wolfgang Obermühlner: German physicist
- Kurt Obermühlner: Austrian artist and composer
- Magdalage Obermühlner: Austrian singer and recording artist
- Barbara Obermühlner: German actress
- Herrmann Obermühlner: Austrian painter and illustrator
- Fritz Obermühlner: German actor
- Gerhard Obermühlner: Austrian opera director
- Jan Obermühlner: Dutch philosopher and author