Surname Oberndörfer - Meaning and Origin
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Oberndörfer: What does the surname Oberndörfer mean?
The last name Oberndörfer is of German origin and comes from elements of the given name “Oberndorf” or “Obern” meaning “above” or “upriver”, and “Dörfer” meaning “villages”. This surname likely refers to somebody who originated from a village situated on higher ground, or one that was along or upstream from somewhere else.
In Germany, there are many places with the name "Oberndorf" or something similar, including the small town of Oberndorf am Neckar in the southwest of the country. Many German towns and cities were founded in the Middle Ages, so if someone in a family had the name Oberndörfer long ago, it is possible they originally came from an old settlement nearby.
The name Oberndörfer may not mean anything concrete, but it offers insight into the origins of a family. It is not specific enough to allow for a genealogical research on one's Oberndörfer ancestry, but it can point to a region of Europe from where one's family may have originated.
Order DNA origin analysisOberndörfer: Where does the name Oberndörfer come from?
The last name Oberndörfer is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. It is a German surname derived from the Old High German root of the word "birhta," which means "bright." It likely owes its name to an ancestor who was endowed with exceptional intelligence or qualities.
In addition to Germany and Austria, the last name Oberndörfer is also trialed to be found in other parts of Europe, including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It is not known to be found outside of Europe, although it may have been adopted by emigrants early in history and gone with them to other parts of the world.
Oberndörfer is a relatively rare last name. According to the last census of Germany, taken in 2020, only about 4,000 people in the country went by this name. This means that this last name is roughly two hundred times less popular than the most commonly occurring last name in Germany, Müller.
In elsewhere in Europe, the numbers are similarly modest. In Austria, for example, only about 1,000 people have this last name today. Similarly, Denmark has recorded only about 100 people with the name, as has Switzerland.
Therefore the last name Oberndörfer is still relatively rare today, even in Europe. It is still concentrated in Germany and Austria, but may be found elsewhere in limited numbers.
Variations of the surname Oberndörfer
The surname Oberndörfer is an old German and Austrian name, derived from Old High German and originally found mainly in Bavaria and the Austrian state of Styria.The variants of this surname are as follows:
Obernförster: an old Austrian spelling of Oberndörfer, literally meaning the "overforester".
Obernvördter: an old Bavarian spelling of Oberndörfer, literally meaning the "overwarden".
Oberhauser: also from the Bavarian region, this variant of Oberndörfer comes from the German word "Oberhaus" and means the "overhouse".
Oberndorfer: commonly spelled Oberndorfer, this version of Oberndörfer is the one mostly used today in Germany.
Obernperger: the origin of this variant can be traced back to the Austrian root "Obernberg" and is literally translated to "overhill".
Obernbauer: like Oberhauser, this is a Bavarian variant of Oberndörfer deriving from the German word "Obernbau". Literally, it translates to "overconstruction".
Oberhoffer: yet another old Bavarian variant, originating from the word "Oberhof", meaning "overcourt".
Oberndoffer: a rare variation of Oberndörfer, mostly linked to the southern regions of the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
Obernhofer: said to be the oldest of all variations of this name, Obernhofer comes from the old German word "Obernhof", a term used to refer to the lord of the manor.
Oberndorff: likely derived from the German word "dorf", meaning "village", this variant is usually found in the western parts of Germany.
All of the above variations share the same basic root, and so are considered to be of the same origin. From this point of view, they can all be considered surnames of the same origin, with varying spellings and surnames.
Famous people with the name Oberndörfer
- Robert Oberndörfer, German publisher, bookseller, and CFO
- Klaus Oberndörfer, German lawyer and politician
- Thomas Oberndörfer, German activist and co-founder of the Party of Democratic Socialism
- Philipp Oberndörfer, German artist and author
- Richard Oberndörfer, German judge and jurist
- Alfred Oberndörfer, German football player
- Karl Oberndörfer, German chemist and biochemist
- Friedrich Oberndörfer, German Olympic gymnast
- Ludwig Oberndörfer, German classical pianist
- Elisabeth Oberndörfer, German-American actor and filmmaker