Surname Ochse - Meaning and Origin
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Ochse: What does the surname Ochse mean?
The last name Ochse is derived from the Old German word “ochs”, meaning “ox” or “bull”. This is an occupational surname referring to a person who bred or traded oxen. The name may have originally been used to denote a nomadic trader who followed the paths of his oxen as they sought new sources of grassland.
The term 'Ochse' can also be found in Middle/Early Modern High German dialects and in Swiss-German, and is associated with the dialects of southern Germany and southern Switzerland, as well as areas of northern Austria.
Immigrants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland brought the last name Ochse to the United States in the 19th century. The name is also found among descendants of German immigrants who came to the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the last name Ochse is most commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. Although a small minority of people still use the name as an occupational name, most modern-day Ochses have the surname as a result of a familial connection to an ancestor who bore the name.
Order DNA origin analysisOchse: Where does the name Ochse come from?
The last name Ochse is a German surname found mostly in Germany and its surrounding countries today. It is particularly common in the German states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also common in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium. In the United States, it is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. It can also be found in parts of Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
The name is derived from the Middle High German word "ochse" meaning "oxen" or "cattle". It is thought to be a metronymic name relating to a person's occupation as a cattle driver, or a given name for someone born during cattle branding.
Aside from its agricultural roots, the name is often associated with writers, politicians, and academics. Ludwig Ochse was a German historian, writer, and professor at the University of Zurich. Albrecht Ochse was a Swiss politician and former member of the Swiss Federal Council. Alfred Ochse was an award-winning novelist from the GDR.
Today, the Ochse surname is encountered in scattered locations throughout Germany and its surrounding countries, as well as parts of North and South America. It is a reminder of the hardworking and diligent spirit of the agricultural era, as well as the rich cultural heritage of Northern Europe.
Variations of the surname Ochse
The surname Ochse is derived from Ochs, a Germanic adjective meaning “ox”. Ochse itself is a Low German spelling of the surname. Other variants of the surname include Ochsen, Ochsenknecht, Ochsenreither, and Ochsner.
The Ochs surname likely originated in the German regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also common in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, and spread to Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In addition to the Ochsen spelling mentioned above, other variants of the surname include Ochsenbein, Ochsendorf, Ochsenfeld, Ochsenhirt, Ochsenschlager, Ochsenhirt, Oswald, and Oschkin.
The Ochs surname also has surnames with different spellings but similar origins, such as Oksen, Oksner, and Okskin. Ochsenhaurer is yet another variant of this surname, though its origin is not certain and could be a variation of one of the previous spellings.
The Ochse surname has a few variant surnames in other languages, such as Oxenhusen from Danish, Ekholmen from Swedish, and Oschkin from Yiddish. However, these spellings are uncommon compared to the more common German variants.
Overall, the surname Ochse has many variants and spellings stemming from different Germanic regions and languages. As the Ochs family spread across Europe, they adapted their surnames to fit the spelling conventions of each country.
Famous people with the name Ochse
- Gila Ochse: Actress and producer
- Rainer Ochse: German writer
- Henning Ochse: former professional hockey player
- Carsten Ochse: former professional soccer player
- Harry Ochse: US Marine General
- Heinz Ochse: former professional curler
- Ernest Ochse: South African international rugby union player
- Bruno Ochse: professor and scholar of Manchu Studies
- Arthur Ochse: astronomer
- Jonathan Ochse: professor of neurology
- Julian Ochse: film director
- Johannes Ochse: former professional footballer
- Sam Ochse: sports commentator
- Dirk Ochse: former professional footballer
- Henrik Ochse: former professional Handball player
- Julienne Ochse: actress
- Arnold Ochse: German journalist
- Jan Ochse: former professional ice hockey player
- Alicja Ochse: former Polish-German actress
- Jens Ochse: former professional footballer