Surname Oberwegner - Meaning and Origin
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Oberwegner: What does the surname Oberwegner mean?
The last name Oberwegner is of German origin and is derived from two German words, 'Ober' meaning 'above' or 'upper' and 'wegner' meaning 'wagoner' or 'driver'. Historically, it indicated a person who transported goods to the upper regions, either as a driver of a horse-drawn wagon or as a navigator of a water vehicle. In some cases, it could also indicate a person who worked as an upper-level wagoner or coachman, as the word 'ober' could refer to someone with a higher rank or social status.
Often times, the name Oberwegner would indicate a person who was responsible for transporting goods to a mountain village, or someone who operated a boat on a lake or river. Members of this surname could also have been involved in long-distance trade or served as an overseer or supervisor in the transport industry.
Today, the name Oberwegner is quite common, particularly in Germany. It is also found in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and other European countries. It is often anglicised into the form "Overwayner". In the United States, it is often spelled "Overwegner" or "Overwegener".
Order DNA origin analysisOberwegner: Where does the name Oberwegner come from?
The last name Oberwegner is most commonly found in Germany today. It is an old, German-origin patronymic name and is derived from the term ‘Ueberwegner’, meaning ‘over-wayman’ or ‘toll-taker’. It began to be used as a surname – most likely in the 1700s-1800s – in Upper Bavaria and Franconia, and is still found in these regions.
Ueberwegner eventually mutated into Oberwegner, and many other spellings, including Oberweger, Oberwayner, Oberweikan, Ueberweichen, Ueberweger, Ueberweigan, Ueberwegan, Ouberwegen, Ouberwegangen, Ooberwegner, Ouberwagner, Ouberwegner, etc.
It is believed that the name flourished and became adopted in these regions because of the large number of toll roads at the time. The main purpose of the name Ueberwegner was to distinguish people who were toll-takers from those who were simply travelers.
Today, the name Oberwegner is still fairly common in Germany, particularly in Upper Bavaria and Franconia. It is also found in other countries, including the United States and Canada. It has also migrated further and is now found in countries with large numbers of German immigrants, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. In these countries, the name may be spelled differently; however, the origin remains the same.
Variations of the surname Oberwegner
The surname Oberwegner is a German-language surname, derived from the German words "Ober" and "Weg" which mean "upper" and "way", respectively. The surname is typically found in Northern Germany and the spelling varies slightly between regions.
Variants of Oberwegner include Oberweg, Oberweger, Oberweger, Oberg, Oberger, Obewege, Obweger, and Obwegner.
In some cases, the spelling has been altered to become Weber or Wegner, although the origins are still from the Oberwegner surname.
In the United States, the surname is sometimes referred to as Overway, which is an Americanized version of Oberwegner.
Other spellings for Oberwegner include Obergwegner, Oberwegen, Oberwegeneer, Oberweghener, Oberweggener, Oberweglener, Oberwegrner, Oberwener, Oberwenner, Oberwenor, Oberwenner, Oberwenger, Oberwerger, Oberwerner, Oberg, Obergeoner, Obergeoner, Oberqueue, and Oberquener.
The surnames Ducic and Vucic both originate from Oberwegner and the spelling Vucic is sometimes found in Austria and Switzerland.
The spelling Oberweiher is also connected to Oberwegner, as it is a combination of Oberwegner and the German word for "well".
In some cases, the spelling Oberwegner is shortened to Oberer, which is a common German language name for a person who lives on an upper path.
Famous people with the name Oberwegner
- Jan Oberwegner: a German actor who starred in many films and television shows.
- Georgia Oberwegner: an Australian actress known for her roles in A Much Needed Break and The Empty Place.
- Kurt Oberwegner: a German actor, director, and screenwriter who was a prolific actor in East Germany from 1965-1979.
- Karl Oberwegner: a German photographer and filmmaker who lived in North America and Europe for most of his career.
- Monika Oberwegner: a German photographer and photojournalist who has covered issues in Germany, Africa, and elsewhere.
- Patrick Oberwegner: a German Olympic swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
- Ronny Oberwegner: an Austrian singer-songwriter and recording artist who has released numerous albums in Austria.
- Gunter Oberwegner: a German musician, composer, and producer who won awards for his composition of the film score for Habermann.
- Martin Oberwegner: an Austrian soccer player who played in the Austrian Bundesliga for SV Wurzburger Kickers.
- Jackie Oberwegner: an Australian actress and former reporter for ABC News and BBC World News.