Surname Odewald - Meaning and Origin
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Odewald: What does the surname Odewald mean?
The last name Odewald is of German origin. Its literal translation is ‘wealthy forest’, derived from the two words ‘ode’, meaning wealthy, and ‘wald’, meaning forest. The use of the initials ODE as part of the name reflects the idea of a family of wealth.
The name can be traced back to the city of Wetzlar in Germany, where it was first used in the tenth century by the Bertholds of the Sch »lichingen family, which were prominent landowners. The Odewalds were granted title to a vast area of land in what is now the Main-Kinzig district, near Frankfurt.
The Odewalds were eventually granted noble titles by the Holy Roman Emperor and the House of Jülich in 1246. From then on the name began to spread further across Germany and into Europe.
By the eighteenth century, the name had become more widespread in the United States. Immigrants from Germany named Odewald settled all over the country, primarily in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois.
Today, the name Odewald is fairly rare, but is still in use around the world. Those with the last name Odewald are often thought of as being noble, or of a higher class. It is thought that most Odewalds today are descendants of the original family in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisOdewald: Where does the name Odewald come from?
The last name Odewald is found mainly in Germany and Austria today. It is also relatively common in the United States, where it has been found in increasing numbers since the mid- to late 19th century. The most common spelling of the name in the United States is "Odwalt," although variants exist. In Germany and Austria, the spelling is usually "Odewald".
The origin of the name Odewald is uncertain, but the root of the name is thought to be old German, likely derived from the given name "Odo," which means "wealthy," or from the German word "wald," meaning "forest."
Today, the last name Odewald is relatively rare in many countries, although people bearing the name can still be found in most places. In Germany, it is most common in Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, as well as in other parts of northern Germany. In the United States, the name is most often found in the Midwest, northern states, and parts of Appalachia. In Austria, the name is quite common in Upper Austria, Burgenland, and Lower Austria.
The Odewald surname still has many living relatives in its various forms around the world. Its different spellings show a certain fondness for the name and its connections to family and place, making it a strong surname that will likely remain in use for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Odewald
The surname Odewald is a variation of the German and Dutch surname Odewaldt, which is derived from elements meaning "old" and "power." This surname can also be spelled Odewalt, Ode Walt, Ode Wal, Odewald, Odwalt, Od Walt, Od Wal, Ode Wal, Odewal, Od Wal, and Odawalt.
In the German language, Odewald is also spelled as Odemann, Oedemann, Oedemannen, Ödemann, Odemannen, Odemannen, Ödemannen, Udewald, Udewaldt, Ude Walt, Ude Wal, U Dawalt, Udewal, Ud Wal, and U Dawalt.
In Dutch, tipsker is the same as Odewald, although the spelling differences may vary from place to place. Other Dutch spellings include Tipsker and Foitsemker, which are both variations on the Odewald name.
Variations of the Odewald name can also be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of the former Soviet Union. These variations are Udewald, Udewalt, Ud Walt, Ud Wal, Ud Walz, Ode Wals, Auswald, Ude Walz, Ode Walez, Auswalz, Udwalts, and Udallds.
Additionally, the surname can also be found in other places, such as the United States and Canada. These variations are Odlewalt, Odlewal, Odle Walt, Odle Wal, and Odel Walt. In the US, the surname Odewald has been changed to Odell for ease of pronunciation.
Overall, the surname Odewald has many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin depending on where it is found. Even though the changes may be slight, the different spellings of the name can be significant.
Famous people with the name Odewald
- Juliane Odewald: German actress
- Alexander Odewald: German painter
- Arne Odewald: German cyclist
- Karl-Heinz Odewald: German Waffen-SS officer in World War II
- Erich Odewald: German actor
- Jens Odewald: German footballer
- Fritz Wilhelm Odewald: German actor and director
- Martin Odewald: German tennis player
- Bob Odewald: American film stuntman
- Ike Odewald: South African artist