Surname Odenkirchen - Meaning and Origin
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Odenkirchen: What does the surname Odenkirchen mean?
The surname Odenkirchen is an occupational surname, originating from the German town of Odenkirchen, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The name Odenkirchen literally means "oak church". This likely refers to the presence of an oak tree church that once stood near the town. It is believed that the original bearer of the name was someone who lived or worked near this church. As at a later time, the church was replaced, many of the people living in or near the town adopted the surname Odenkirchen, likely to identify their connection to the church.
The surname Odenkirchen is still common throughout much of Germany today and beyond. In some places, spellings of the name may have been modified due to regional pronunciation differences and other factors. In the United States, the variants Odinkirk and Odinkirkland are also found.
In Germany today, the surname carries with it a strong sense of German cultural identity. Individuals who carry the surname are viewed positively and often thought of as being strongly connected to their German heritage. It is a reminder of a long and storied history that stretches back over centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisOdenkirchen: Where does the name Odenkirchen come from?
The surname Odenkirchen is most commonly found in Germany today, where it is among the top 1,000 surnames. In particular, the name is concentrated in the region around Cologne, which is located in the western part of Germany.
The first known bearers of this last name lived in the area in the 12th and 13th centuries. At that time, they were knights and members of an aristocratic family that essentially governed parts of the region. The family also owned a large swath of land that was eventually divided up among several noble members of the house.
The surname has continued on in various forms ever since, including Odendorf, Odenkirch, Odenkirk, Odikirch and, eventually, its current spelling, Odenkirchen.
The Odenkirchens also came to North America in the 18th century, where they settled in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the first Odenkirchens who came to America were brothers who had come from the Palatine region of Germany.
Today, Odenkirchen is still found in the United States, most commonly in Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. The name is also found in various parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the name is found in some parts of South America where members of the family migrated there over the years.
Variations of the surname Odenkirchen
The surname Odenkirchen, or its variants and spellings, derives from a place name in Germany, Odenkirchen, which contains the elements "Ode" or "Otto," a given name that may have referred to a regional ruler in the area, and "Kirchen," meaning "church." Odenkirchen has many alternative spellings, including Odenkirk, Odenkirkh, Odenkerch, Odenkircher, and Odenkirches.
Odenkirchen also has many variants and surnames of the same origin, such as Ottenkircher, Ottenkirchen, Odinkircher, Odinkirchen, Odenkercher, Odenkercher, Odenkerkh, Odenkecher, Odenkech, Odenkirch, Odenkirche, Odenkirchee, Odenkirkher, Odenkirkhauer, and Odenkirker. Each of these surnames was adopted by families in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Other related surnames include Odensus, Odonius, Oddinkerke, Odenbacher, and Odenbacker. These names, while related to Odenkirchen, have origins in other Germanic regions, such as the southern part of Germany, and Austria.
Some families with the Odenkirchen surname came to America by the early 19th century, many settling in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many families of Germanic background, including of the Odenkirchen surname, emigrated to other parts of the U.S. for economic opportunities, such as New York and the Midwest.
Today, the surname Odenkirchen and its variants and spellings are found throughout the U.S. and Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe, Latin America, and beyond.
Famous people with the name Odenkirchen
- Maren Odenkirchen, German high jumper and Olympian
- Greta Odenkirchen, German female ice hockey player
- Tobias Odenkirchen, German footballer
- Emese Odenkirchen, German rower and Olympian
- Seth Odenkirchen, American artist and illustrator
- Justin Odenkirchen, American professional baseball player
- Helmut Odenkirchen, German mathematician and university professor
- Wayne Odenkirchen, American brigadier general and recipient of the Legion of Merit
- Joanne Odenkirchen, American widow of Skylab astronaut Owen K. Garriott
- Marlies Odenkirchen, Dutch author and creator of children's books
- Markus Odenkirchen, German ice hockey player and national team member
- Eike Odenkirchen, German writer and producer
- Damian Odenkirchen, German actor and director
- Andrew Odenkirchen, German computer scientist and company founder
- Gerhard Odenkirchen, German politician and Member of the European Parliament
- Walter Odenkirchen, German chemist and professor
- Ursula Odenkirchen-Schultz, German politician, librarian, and university registrar
- Janna Odenkirchen, German pediatrician and researcher
- Klaus Odenkirchen, German film editor and director
- Rüdiger Odenkirchen, German entrepreneur and TV show host