Surname Oberndorfner - Meaning and Origin
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Oberndorfner: What does the surname Oberndorfner mean?
The last name Oberndorfner is of Germanic origin and is a habitational name which refers to someone who once lived near an important settlement known as Oberndorf. This surname is derived from the German word “orf” which means “village” and “dorfer” which means “small settlement” or “hamlet.” The suffix “ner” is a variant of “er” which means “of” or “belonging to.” As a result, Oberndorfner roughly translates to “of Oberndorf.”
The earliest record of the Oberndorfner surname dates back to 1498 when a person by the last name Oberndorffer was mentioned in a publication related to legal matters. During the 15th and 16th centuries, many Germans began to migrate to other countries around the world in search of better opportunities, and it’s likely that the Oberndorfner family was part of this migration. Consequently, the name is now found across several countries in Europe, North America and other parts of the world.
On a deeper level, the surname Oberndorfner reflects Germanic values emphasizing the importance of family and community. It serves as a reminder of the generations of people who have proudly called themselves Oberndorfner and have been part of a long and distinguished legacy of strong and resilient individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisOberndorfner: Where does the name Oberndorfner come from?
The last name Oberndorfner has a history that dates back to medieval times and is most commonly found in Europe today. In particular, it is heavily concentrated in Austria, where it is found among the 2,200 or so inhabitants of Oberndorf an der Melk.
Oberndorf is located in Lower Austria, an administrative region in the northeast of Austria. It is situated at the confluence of the Kamp and Melk rivers, between the industrial city of Wiener Neustadt and the wine-producing region of Langenlois.
In addition to Austria, the Oberndorfner family name has been found in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, specifically in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic. It is also known to exist in small numbers in the United States, typically among immigrants who trace their lineage back to Germany, where the family surname had its origins in the 16th century.
Generally speaking, though, the name is most commonly found in Austria, where many Oberndorfners still live today in its historical homeland. Distinctive for its melodic cadence, the Oberndorfner name is still quite common in the region, with many family members still living in Oberndorf an der Melk as well as in various other nearby cities and towns.
Variations of the surname Oberndorfner
The surname Oberndorfner is derived from the German version of the name and can also be found as Oberndorfer. The variants are Oberndorffer, Oberdorfer, Oberdorffer and Oberdorfner. It has also been observed that some people with the surname Oberndorfner have also adopted spelling variations such as Obertdorfer, Oertel, Obernhart, Oberndorfer, Obernderfer, Oberndorfer, Oberherd, Oberdortner, Oberdöringer, Oberdorfer, Oberdorffer, and Obernattersberger.
Generally, the adopted spelling variations are dependent on the particular region that the name is used in. It is also possible to come across the Oberndorfner surname abbreviated to Obdorfer, Odorfer, Obgold, or Odbank while members of the royal family may be referred to as Oberndorfn.
The use of the Oberndorfner surname is believed to have originated from the village of Oberndorf, situated in the area which was formerly known as the German county of Oberndorf. This village was situated near Donauwörth, a city in the German state of Bavaria. The people who lived here were responsible for providing salt to the area and it is believed that this is where the surname was derived from — as the people in the area were referred to as Oberndorfn, meaning 'the people of the salt mine'.
The name is also believed to have originated from other places, such as the German city of Nürnberg. This city had a significant presence of the Oberndorfner family, and some of the members of the family today still bear the name. Additionally, the surname can also be found in the Swiss canton of Valais, as well as in regions of Austria and Prussia.
Famous people with the name Oberndorfner
- Roman Oberndorfer, Austrian skeleton racer
- Walfriede Oberndorfer, German chef
- Julia Oberndorfer, German historian
- Andreas Oberndorfer, Austrian racing cyclist
- Patrick Oberndorfer, German biathlete
- Klaus Oberndorfer, German historian
- Ursula Oberndorfer-Kalthoff, German actress
- Heinz Oberndorfer, German film director
- Mark Oberndorfer, Australian soccer referee
- Wolfgang Oberndorfer, German film producer