Surname Odebrecht - Meaning and Origin
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Odebrecht: What does the surname Odebrecht mean?
The last name Odebrecht is a Portuguese family name that can be traced back to the medieval Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It originated from a village in Portugal and has been a part of the Portuguese aristocracy for centuries. According to some histories, it was already a part of the Portuguese royal family since the thirteenth century.
The name Odebrecht most likely comes from the Latin word ob dergectus, which means "of the bridge." This likely indicates that the family had a relationship with bridges in their ancestral home. Beyond that, the exact meaning of the name is unknown.
The name has remained popular in Portugal and in Brazil, a country with a large population of Portuguese descent who trace their ancestry to Portugal. In Brazil, the state-owned conglomerate Odebrecht has become one of the largest construction companies and is known for its large-scale projects.
Odebrecht is a surname that reflects the legacy of the past and speaks to the important contributions the family has made over hundreds of years. It is a reminder of the strength and fortitude of the Portuguese people in the face of adversity and serves as a sign of respect and appreciation from a proud family.
Order DNA origin analysisOdebrecht: Where does the name Odebrecht come from?
The last name Odebrecht is a common surname in Brazil. Odebrecht is one of the largest engineering and contractors in Brazil, founded in 1944 by Norberto Odebrecht. As such, the Odebrecht surname has long been associated with success and wealth in the country.
The Odebrecht family is originally from Norway; the surname first came to Brazil in the 1880s with the entrepreneurial Norwegian-born immigrant Peter Odebrecht. After he immigrated to Brazil, the Odebrecht name rapidly spread throughout the country. To this day, it remains one of the most common surnames in Brazil, particularly in the Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais states.
The Odebrecht name is also found in other countries. For instance, in Portugal, the surname is a variant of the name Ôdebrecht. This variant is linked to descendants of Peter Odebrecht who migrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to Portugal from Brazil.
Today, the Odebrecht name is closely associated with the Odebrecht business and engineering enterprise. As a result, the surname continues to be associated with success, wealth, and recognition in Brazil and other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Odebrecht
Odebrecht is a surname that originates from Germany, with many variants and spellings from generations of emigration and cultural assimilation.
Variants of the Odebrecht surname include Obendorf, Vedder, Vetters, Odendorp, Oderbrecht, Odenbrecht, and Oedendorp. Spellings can appear with single and double d's, double t's, double n's, and single and double l's.
Additionally, many German surnames had to be adjusted to fit language conventions in other countries. For example, Odebrecht may have evolved to Odeberecht or Odende Bert in English.
In the United States, Odebrecht surnames and their variants may have been pronounced differently and/or spelled differently. The same is true of other countries, including Brazil, where the law now allows persons of any nationality to choose the surname they wish to use.
Other surnames related to Odebrecht include Van Odebrecht, Odekerk, Odema, Odenheimer, Odemann, Odendahl, Odendall, Odendahl, Odendhal, Odendhal, Odendisch, and Odenwald. This list is not exhaustive; in addition to these names, there are likely many more variants and spellings of Odebrecht related surnames.
In recent decades, migration has also resulted in other forms of the Odebrecht surname being used. For example, some family members may change the spelling to Oderbrecht, Odenbrecht, or Odenecht to add an additional cultural mark.
Famous people with the name Odebrecht
- Marcelo Odebrecht: Marcelo Odebrecht is a Brazilian businessman, the former CEO of the Odebrecht construction company, which he headed from 2005 until his resignation in 2015. He was arrested in June 2015 in connection with Operation Car Wash, Brazil's largest anti-corruption investigation.
- Emílio Odebrecht: Emílio Odebrecht was a Brazilian engineer and businessman, founder and president of the Odebrecht Group.
- Kurt Lidtke Odebrecht: Kurt Lidtke Odebrecht was a Brazilian businessman and member of the wealthy Odebrecht family, coming from the north-eastern state of Pernambuco. He was the President of Odebrecht SA from 1985 to 2001.
- Marcos Odebrecht: Marcos Odebrecht is a Brazilian entrepreneur and the former CEO of Odebrecht SA, the largest construction company in Latin America. He also served as the chairman of Odebrecht Foundation, an organization that has partnerships with governments and private corporations to carry out social and infrastructure works.
- Othon Luiz Pinheiro da Silva: Othon Luiz Pinheiro da Silva is a Brazilian businessman, the former CEO of Odebrecht SA who succeeded Marcelo Odebrecht after his imprisonment in 2015.
- André Vital and Clara Vital: André Vital and Clara Vital are both the children of Marcelo Odebrecht. André is a business graduate and the CEO of Braskem. Clara Vital is a fashion designer and is the founder and CEO of a fashion brand by the name of Wilddresses.