Surname Odenwäller - Meaning and Origin
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Odenwäller: What does the surname Odenwäller mean?
The German surname Odenwäller is derived from a location name, derived from the Old German word “odin” meaning a stream or source. Thus, people with this last name were likely to have come from a place near a water source.
The original form of Odenwäller likely began as “Odenwale” in the 1500s, but gradually mutated over time, eventually becoming Odenwäller. People with this surname are thought to have adapted in new regions multiple times, forming localized spellings and pronunciations, such as Odenwaehl, Odenwohler, Odenwaller, and so on.
Despite the varied spelling, it has a relatively localized origin when considering its German roots. Those with the Odenwäller name are mainly of German or Swiss origin, and the majority of people who are still living with this name are located in a specific region in the Baden-Württemberg area of Germany.
Odenwäller is said to mean “a person from a source of water” or “a person from a spring”. It is thought to be indicative of a person with an intrinsically close connection with nature, and it remains a fitting surname for those of the Odenwäller name today.
Order DNA origin analysisOdenwäller: Where does the name Odenwäller come from?
The last name Odenwäller is most commonly found today in Germany, Specifically in the state of Bavaria, but also in Austria. The name is derived from the combination of two words “Ode” meaning either “praise” or “prayer” and “wäller” meaning “waller” or “bailiff”.
In Germany, the occupational name was originally used to denote a tax collector or land steward. The Odenwäller family trace their roots back to the city of Ansbach in Bavaria, where the first recording of the family was found in 1345. The family is believed to have been among the earliest noble families in the area and they became well known for their strong business practices and entrepreneurial spirit.
In the 19th century, many of the Odenwäller family members emigrated from Germany to America. They settled in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and California and became successful merchants, storekeepers, and farmers. Several members of the family also became prominent farmers in the Midwest, supplying produce to the growing population of the United States.
Today, many descendants of the original Odenwäller ancestral line still live in Germany, particularly in Bavaria. There are also many descendants living in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Odenwäller
Odenwäller is a German surname originating from an occupational name, derived from the Middle High German elements odin (fire) and walteren (to watch). It can be spelled in various variations such as Odenwalder, Odenwälden, and Odenwaller.
The surname can also take on additional variants when translated to other languages. In Dutch, for example, the surname Odenwäller is often spelled as Odendijk. In French, the surname Odenwäller is often spelled Odenval or Odenva. In Swedish, the surname Odenwäller is often spelled as Odengården and in Polish, the surname Odenwäller is often spelled as Odenwiler or Odwojewski.
In some families, the spelling of the surname may have changed over the generations and other possible variants of the name are O’Denwäller, Odenhaller, Odenhawser, Odenheimer, Odenhal, Odenhau, Odenhay, Odenhaler, Odenhouser, and Odenholser.
In terms of soundex coding, Odenwäller is spelled as O355, with the same soundex coding also applicable to the abovementioned variants.
In terms of patronymic surnames meaning 'son of Odenwäller', some possible variations include Odenson, Odensson, Odenz, Odenzes, Odenzler and Odenzly.
The name Odenwäller has a long standing tradition in Germany and has been around since the Medieval period, with many branches of the same family having settled throughout Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Famous people with the name Odenwäller
- Adolf Odenwälder, German politician and World War II general
- Hubert Odenwälder, German chemist
- Euclides Odenwälder, Brazilian painter
- Richard Odenwälder, German police officer
- Hermann Odenwäller, German botanist
- Johann Friedrich Odenwälder, German historian
- Johanna Odenwäller, German singer-songwriter
- Philipp Odenwäller, Austrian physicist and inventor
- Walter Odenwäller, German-Jewish accountant and entrepreneur
- Wilhelm Odenwäller, German physicist