Surname Oberscheid - Meaning and Origin
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Oberscheid: What does the surname Oberscheid mean?
The last name Oberscheid is a German name derived from the word "oberscheidt," which means an overseer or supervisor. It's an occupational surname, suggesting that those by this name were of the upper class and supervised peasant farmers or soldiers.
The earliest written record of the Oberscheid family dates to 1208, and the earliest known bearer of the name is Henneken Oberentscheid in a land registry document from Westphalia, Germany. After this, the Oberscheid family spread throughout Germany, primarily in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, though many also settled in nearby areas such as Hanover and Rügen. This suggests that the family was likely well-traveled and entrepreneurial.
Today, the Obersheid name is still quite common in Germany. Historians have found that the last name is the 814th most common name in Germany, and it is particularly popular in the western part of the country. Though it is still a widely recognized German surname, Oberscheid is found in other countries as well, such as the Netherlands, the United States, South Africa, and New Zealand.
The Oberscheid surname suggests a long history of leadership, intelligence, and ambition. It's an extremely unique name with a fascinating past that spans over 800 years, and it continues to be carried by families that are proud to have such an impressive surname.
Order DNA origin analysisOberscheid: Where does the name Oberscheid come from?
Oberscheid is a German surname that is predominantly located in Germany. It is especially common in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia where it is the 121st most common surname. It is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria.
Throughout Germany, the name Oberscheid is often shortened to Obscheid or Oberschied. It is a topographic name which means "at the edge" or "border" and is likely derived from the Middle High German word "scheitel", meaning "edge".
Outside of Germany, it is also common in Argentina, where many German immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th centuries. This could be due to the presence of the Evangelische Mesopotamische Mission (Evangelical Mesopotamian Mission) within the country. This organization, formed in 1893, was supported by German settlers in Argentina, and any members who settled in Argentina likely took the surname Oberscheid to denote their association with the mission.
Additionally, the surname Oberscheid can be found in the United States, particularly in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Illinois, and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, Oberscheid is the 2402nd most common surname, showing that its influence in the United States is more limited than in German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Oberscheid
The surname Oberscheid is a German name meaning “above the mark” or “above division” and is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Variations of Oberscheid include Oberscheid, Oberschid, Obercheid, Öbercheid, and Ober Schied. Spellings of the surname vary as well, depending on the region, such as Oberschedit, Oberschiedt, Oberschieder, Oberscheider, and Öerschiedt.
Variations of the surname Oberscheid may also be found among other Germanic-speaking areas, such as in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. There, spellings can include Oberscheit, Obberscheid, Oberscheit, and Oberscheed.
Surnames that may share the same origin as Oberscheid include Akersheid, Bersheid, Debsheid, Grundersheid, Harbtsheid, Herbsheid, Horersheid, Kersheid, Knobbsheid, Gärtsheid, Lehrsheid, Lemppersheid, Liefersheid, Neuersheid, Oldersheid, and Perschheid.
This is just a small selection of surnames, and there may be others that share the same origin as Oberscheid. As the surname is Germanic in origin, all surnames with the letter combination “sch” or “schd” may be related in some way.
Famous people with the name Oberscheid
- Mike Oberscheid: Professional golfer currently playing in the Mackenzie Tour in Canada
- Steve Oberscheid: American soccer coach and former USL Pro player
- Erik Oberscheid: Emmy Award-winning motion graphics and video editor
- Earl Oberscheid: Professional bodybuilder and IFBB Hall of Famer
- Dan Oberscheid: Former NFL offensive lineman
- Clark Oberscheid: Former professional baseball player
- Alex Oberscheid: Professional Motocross racer
- Anna Oberscheid: Professional Triathlete
- Kevin Oberscheid: American film director and animator
- Mark Oberscheid: Professional photographer and aerial cinematographer