Surname Odenthal - Meaning and Origin
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Odenthal: What does the surname Odenthal mean?
The last name Odenthal is a German name, derived from the Middle High German word "Odenthal". The word itself was derived from two elements, "Oot" meaning "heritage" or "inheritance", and "Thal" meaning "valley", combined to mean "valley of the inheritance". Some sources also suggest that the name could have originally meant "valley of the elders", or "valley of the people".
The surname was likely originally given to those living in a valley, either as a hereditary title or an honorific designation given to a respected elder. It could even refer to a specific location in a valley, such as a significant homestead.
The Odenthal surname is distinct in its spelling and pronunciation from similar surnames such as Odenthaler or Ottenthal. This may be due to either the original spelling or the influence of foreign language spellings, such as French, on the German language.
Today, Odenthal is primarily found in the Rhineland in Germany, although people with this surname can be found throughout the country. With increasing global mobility, Odenthals have left their geographical area of origin and can now be found all around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisOdenthal: Where does the name Odenthal come from?
The name Odenthal is found mainly in Germany and is most commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of the country. This region is in the western part of the country on the French and Belgium borders. The surname is believed to have originated in this area and may have been derived from a place name. It was most likely adopted by a family who lived in or near a place called Oden or Odenthal. The name Odenthal can also be found in the United States, South Africa, and Australia, although this is more likely to be related to immigration from Germany than direct ancestry.
In the United States, the name Odenthal is most commonly found in states with high German-American populations, such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, and Ohio.
The census records of 1920 showed that most of the people with the last name Odenthal who were living in the United States were born in Germany and subsequently emigrated to the United States. Today, the last name Odenthal is still common in Germany and the United States, and can also be found in other countries with German immigration such as South Africa and Australia.
Variations of the surname Odenthal
Odenthal is an Anglo-Saxon surname, likely derived from either German or Dutch origin where it is spelled as “Odendahl” or “Odenthal”. It is also often found with a variety of spellings such as Othdahl, Odendal, Othnal, Odenhall, Odintal, Othndahl, Othenal, Odenthal, Odenall, Odinthal, and Othdnal.
In the United States, the surname is largely concentrated in Texas and it is believed that the earliest Odenthals migrated there from Prussia and the Rhineland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Odenthal family also has roots in Ireland, where a variant spelling of the surname, O'Dannal, is found with derivatives such as Dennal, Dennell, and O'Dennel. The O'Dannal surname is a variation of the Gaelic term for ‘descendant of Darel’, while the Dennal spelling is derived from an old Irish given name, “Dónal”.
The Odenthal surname is also found in several other countries such as England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and even India. The spelling of the name is likely to vary in these countries. In India, Odenthal may be spelled as Uddantel or Udantel, as is more commonly found among Indian Christian families.
In conclusion, many variants and surnames of the same origin exist for the surname Odenthal. The spelling of the surname is likely to vary depending on the country or region where it is found, and derivatives may also exist from old Irish given names. Thus, it is worthwhile researching and tracing all possible variants of Odenthal before deciding on a particular spelling.
Famous people with the name Odenthal
- Karl-Heinz Odenthal: Was a German football defender who won 2 Bundesliga titles and 1 UEFA Cup with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Silas Odenthal: Is an American actor and producer, most notable for his role on the Nickelodeon show “100 Things to Do Before High School.”
- Fred Odenthal: A former Major League Baseball player from the 1920s.
- Christian Odenthal: A German-born naturalized Belgian archeologist who has studied the tomb sites of Ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
- Paul-Gerhard Odenthal: Was a German operatic baritone who specialized in leading Heldentenor roles in the second half of the 20th century.
- apparently a Werner Odenthal, an artist in Austria, but hard to find information about him
- Rudolf Odenthal: Was a German long-distance runner who competed in the Olympics in 1992.