Surname Obertin - Meaning and Origin

Obertin: What does the surname Obertin mean?

The last name Obertin is of German or Swiss origin. The name is derived from the German word "ober", meaning high or noble, and the suffix "-tin", which is used as a diminutive form. This surname can be found in records from the mid-16th century in what is now modern Germany, or Switzerland.

Traditionally, individuals with this surname have been associated with noble or clergy professions, such as priests and landowners. In many instances, members of the Obertin family were able to attain higher positions than those without this surname, due to their status.

In addition to its noble roots, this last name has been adopted by various other families, becoming increasingly popular with each generation. Today, individuals with the last name Obertin tend to be found throughout Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

The individual meanings of the names 'Ober' and 'tin' have remained unchanged over the years, and still represent noble and positive qualities. For example, those with the surname Obertin are typically seen as being honorable, hardworking, and respected.

Obertin: Where does the name Obertin come from?

The last name Obertin is most commonly found in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also possible to find the name in France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and other countries. The Family History Library lists the surnames of Obertin in Germany in 1881.

In the U.S., the majority of the Obertins currently reside in the Midwest states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. A considerable Jewish population with the Obertin surname is also found in parts of New York, particularly the Bronx. The name Obertin appears in the Social Security Administration index with increasingly more frequency in the newer generations of Americans.

In Germany, the name Obertin appears to have been most commonly found in the Bavarian region in the 19th century. Court records from the Munich archives detail individuals with the last names Obertin in the early 1800s.

Obertin is considered to be a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from a geographic place. It is likely that the name originally belonged to individuals who lived near or in the Ober valley in southern Germany. It could also have been derived from the city of Oberteins in Austria, near the border of Bavaria.

Overall, the name Obertin is not particularly widespread in either North America or Europe. Its relative rarity could be indicative of the relatively small number of people who owned it upon its original origin.

Variations of the surname Obertin

The surname Obertin is a German-origin name that is also spelled as Obertean, Obertan, Obertein, Obertien, Obertin, Obertine, Obertyne or Obertyn. It is a toponymic name derived from middle High German “ouwe”, meaning an “island,” and “-tin,” either a common diminutive suffix or a location marker.

The variants of the spelling of this surname have been found in Prussian records dating back to the sixteenth century. They are primarily located in East Prussia in present-day Poland and Lithuania. The Obertan surname appeared there during the reign of Elector Joachim II Hector (1535-1571) of Brandenburg-Prussia.

The toponymic names that evolved from the surname Obertin, such as Obertean, Obertan, Obertein and so on, could also be linked to the Old High German word "tuna," which literally translates to "dweller." In fact, the surname Obertin can be found in many parts of Germany and the surrounding countries, or simply, in Europe.

In modern times, the surname Obertin is mainly found in the German states of Saxony, Mecklenburg, and Baden-Württemberg. Outside Germany, it is mainly found in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, England, and other countries around the world.

In addition to the variants of the surname Obertin, there are also some similar-sounding spellings. The most common variation is “Obertyne,” which was mainly found in the region of Pomerania. It is also spelled as “Oberdien” or “Oberdyne” in some regions. Other similar spellings include “Obertiyen,” “Obertyan,” and “Obertyen.”

Although the surname Obertin might not be a common one, it is an important part of German culture. The many spelling variants and surnames that developed from it provide a glimpse into the long history of this German-origin name.

Famous people with the name Obertin

• Ray Obertin- Ray Obertin is a former professional basketball player for the NBA's Denver Nuggets. During his career, Obertin played a total of 22 games for the Nuggets in the late 1980s.
• Gustavo Obertin- Gustavo Obertin is a professional drummer from Brazil. He is best known for his work with the band Los Hermanos, who have released five albums from 2002 to 2009.
• Leo Obertin- Leo Obertin is an Argentinian film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed several films, including Viento Sur (2015), Monstruos (2019), and El patio (2020).
• Hugo Obertin- Hugo Obertin is a Peruvian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru from 2008 to 2011.
• José Obertin- José Obertin is a Venezuelan politician and economist who served as Vice President of Finance of Venezuela from 2012 to 2016.
• Bartolomeo Obertin- Bartolomeo Obertin was an Italian composer who lived during the late 15th-early 16th centuries. He is best known for writing madrigals and composed several works for two choirs.
• Richard Obertin- Richard Obertin is a French mathematician who worked at the University of Strasbourg in the late 19th century. He is best known for his work on the integrability of differential equations.
• Max Obertin- Max Obertin is a Belgian actor who has appeared in several films, television series, and stage productions. He is best known for his appearances in The Honourable Woman (2014), The Tunnel (2013–2015), and London Spy (2015).

Other surnames

ObertOberthOberthürOberting