Surname Öhrle - Meaning and Origin

Öhrle: What does the surname Öhrle mean?

Öhrle is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German “Ohre”, which means ear, and is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European term for the same. This type of surname was a commonly used by early German settlers to describe a person's occupation or a physical characteristic.

In medieval times, Öhrle (or Ohre) was most typically used to describe a person either who worked as a farmer’s assistant or a breeder of farm animals, or to describe a person with unusually large ears.

As a surname, the Öhrle family is believed to have originated in the Austrian and Swiss border regions, with some records suggesting a Bavarian origin as well. The name is not common, with the most prominent bearer of the surname being the German physicist, Dr Friedrich Öhrle, who was born in Berlin in 1768 and who published various significant papers on electricity and other electromagnetic studies.

The name Öhrle usually appears in records as Öhrle or Öhrel, and is occasionally found in the US, primarily in Pennsylvania. Today, the name is relatively uncommon, although it has survived in many parts of Europe. It provides a fascinating reminder of a family’s medieval past.

Öhrle: Where does the name Öhrle come from?

The last name Öhrle is a surname of German origin and is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. It is a toponymic surname, meaning that it refers to the place of origin of those who first adopted it as a last name. The name is derived from a place that was likely located in the southern part of the modern Bavarian region, which historically was known as Swabia.

The exact meaning of the name is uncertain; it may be derived from a combination of Old German words “oar” and “heir” meaning “river heir,” or it may be derived from “öhre” and “le” meaning “hill meadow.” Thus, it is likely that early bearers of the name Öhrle originated from a place near a river or a hill meadow.

Today, the surname Öhrle is most common in Germany, but is also found in Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The United States also has a small but growing population of Öhrles, as more families migrate from Europe to America. There have been a few notable people with this surname, most notably a German botanist and zoologist by the name of Ernst Werner Öhrle, who was active in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname Öhrle

The surname Öhrle is a German surname with regional variations in spelling. Variations include Öhrlein, Öhrlen, Öhrl, Öhrlin, Oerle, Oerlein, Oerlen, Oerl, Oerlin, Orle, Orlein, Orlen, Orl and Orlin. All of these variations are derived from the German word "Ohr" which means ear, and likely refer to the physical characteristics of those bearing the name.

Surnames derived from locations often came about when former residence became adopted as a surname. This is likely how the various surnames derived from the Öhrle variation also came to be. These include Öhrlenbach, Öhrlesbrunn, Öhrleswald, Öhrlesberg, Öhrlesbrücke, Öhrlestal, Öhrlesdorf, Öhrleskreuz, Öhrlesheide, and Öhrlesbach.

Öhrle is also a variation of Ahrens, which is derived from the Middle High German "arn" meaning eagle. Ahrens is a habitational name originating from Ahren in Germany. It can also refer to someone who hailed from any of the places called Ahrens or Aarons, which would include Ahrensdorf, Ahrenshoop, Ahrensholz, Ahrensburger, Ahrensburg, Ahrensfelde, Ahrensfelde, Ahrensdorf, Ahrensheide, and Ahrenshagen-Daskow.

Finally, Weisshaar is also believed to be derived from Öhrle, and refers to someone with white hair. Other similar variants include Weisshaupt, Weisflog, and Weisgrau. All of these variations likely refer to a person's physical characteristic of having white or gray hair.

Famous people with the name Öhrle

• Martin Öhrle: German actor, best known for his film roles such as in the 'Tatort' franchise and the television series' 'Unter uns' and 'Alarm für Cobra 11'.
• Antonia Öhrle: German model and the winner of Miss Germany 2020.
• Jochen Öhrle: German saxophonist and composer, a long standing member of the German pop group Wise Guys.
• Sebastian Öhrle, German jazz pianist and composer, who's original music has been performed internationally.
• Alexander Öhrle, German music producer and sound engineer based in Berlin. He has worked with artists such as Marteria, AnnenMayKantereit and Ado Kojo.
• Florian Öhrle, German film maker and cinematographer, who is most known for his work on the documentaries 'AufBruch Metropole' and 'Herren der Strasse'.
• Aron Öhrle, German photographer, who specializes in sports events and outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing and windsurfing. He has also worked for leading German magazines.
• Kurt Öhrle, German artist and sculptor, best known for his wooden totems and sculptures made from found objects.
• Philipp Öhrle, German political commentator and journalist who is also a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines such as Der Spiegel and Zeit.
• Jakob Öhrle, German architect and industrial designer, well known for the glass store fronts that he designed for German fashion store Renard.

Other surnames

OhrleinÖhrlein