Surname Obermüller - Meaning and Origin
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Obermüller: What does the surname Obermüller mean?
The last name Obermüller is a German surname which dates back to at least the 12th century. The name comes from the German words "Ober" and "Müller" - Ober means "superior" or "upper" and Müller is an occupational name meaning "miller". Thus, the last name Obermüller roughly translates to "upper miller."
Originally, the Obermüller name was an occupational surname referring to a person whose job was grinding grain at a mill. This might have been the family business which was passed down from generation to generation. In some cases, the name might have described a family's origin - from a village or town known as Obermülle.
Today, the Obermüller surname is common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as in other countries such as the United States. In some countries, particularly in the Americas, the name has been changed to other variants such as O'Meara or Miller.
Despite a long history, the origins of the Obermüller surname remain a mystery. The name does not appear to have any noble or aristocratic links, and more research is necessary to piece together its fascinating story.
Order DNA origin analysisObermüller: Where does the name Obermüller come from?
The last name Obermüller is predominantly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Records of the name date back to the 1500s in Germany, and it is still quite commonly found in southern and central Germany. The highest concentration of people with the name Obermüller is located in Bavaria, with a population of more than 36,000 records. In other German-speaking countries, Obermüller is found in smaller numbers, but can still be found in the regions of Carinthia, Austria, and Canton Bern, Switzerland. Additionally, the name is also present in other areas of Europe, such as in parts of Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Outside of Europe, the name Obermüller is comparatively rare, with the United States being home to the largest population of people with this last name. This is likely due to immigration to the US from 19th and 20th century Germany, when a large number of Germans crossed the ocean in search of a better life and brought elements of German culture with them, including their last name.
In all, Obermüller is a common name in German-speaking countries, as well as in the US, and can still be found in other places in Europe as well due to migration and historical links between the continents.
Variations of the surname Obermüller
The surname Obermüller is derived from two German words: Ober, meaning "upper," and Müller, meaning "miller". The surname is a metonymic occupational name for someone who owned and operated a mill, or was employed to work as a miller.
Variations, spellings and other surnames that are derived from Obermueller include Obermueller, Obermuller, Obermuhler, Obermuellerin, Oebermuller, Obermair, Obermeyer, Obermeyerin, Uebmueller, Uebermill, Uebmiller, Uebmuller, Uefermuller, Uebermair, Uebermayer, Uebermeyer, Uebermeyr, Ueberman, Uebermaier, Uebermiler, Uebermillen, Uebering, Uwermawer, Uwermayer, Uwermayerin, and Uwermeyerin.
Some of these surnames are also associated with other locations and regions such as Switzerland and Austria. While typically spelt with a double “ll”, some regional variations may include an “y” or a “h” instead. Common surnames that are a variation of Obermueller include Obermayr, Obermair, Obermayer, Obermeir, Obermeiser, Obermeyr, Oebermayer, Umbermayer, and Ubermayer.
Obermueller is a relatively rare surname; however, it is associated with Germany and other areas of Central and Eastern Europe. The different spellings and variations of this name can be traced back to their origins in western Germany, and the Netherlands, during the Medieval period.
Famous people with the name Obermüller
- Peter Obermüller: Austrian tenor and musical director.
- Jörg Obermüller: German footballer who played for FC Basel and others in the 1970s/1980s.
- Monika Obermüller Landscape Painter/Artist
- Maximilian Obermüller: Professional cyclist who has competed for several teams since 2006.
- Friedrich Obermüller: Austrian former alpine skier, competed in three disciplines at the 1956 and 1964 Winter Olympics and won four medals.
- Fritz Obermüller: German retired professional football player.
- Karl Obermüller: German theologian credited with popularizing the work of Johannes Kepler in the 19th century.
- Shaun Obermüller: Australian Musician known for his work in the folk-rock band Galabee Lake.
- Florian Obermüller: German professional footballer currently playing for TSV 1860 Munich
- Heinz Obermüller: American ski jumper who competed in the 1989 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup.