Surname Opfer - Meaning and Origin
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Opfer: What does the surname Opfer mean?
The German surname Opfer most commonly means ‘victim’ or ‘sacrifice’. It is derived from the Middle High German ‘ofer’, which is related to the Old English ‘oferien’, meaning ‘present’ or ‘offer’, and from its associated verb, ‘oferian’, meaning ‘to offer’ or ‘to sacrifice’. The surname is believed to have been used by people who lived in one of the areas where Germany now exists.
The surname Originated in Germany and spread to other parts of Europe and the world, such as parts of the United States, with families bearing it from the 1600s onward. Today, the surname is thought to cover about 1 in 3,000 in Germany.
The surname Opfer is found in a variety of contexts. It is fairly common in Germany, but is also found in other countries, including the United States, Britain, and other parts of Europe. Though not overly common elsewhere, it is by no means rare or unique.
The surname Opfer provides an interesting glimpse into the history of the areas in which it originates. It serves as a reminder of the religious and cultural history of German-speaking peoples and of the people who lived their a long time ago.
Order DNA origin analysisOpfer: Where does the name Opfer come from?
The surname Opfer is most commonly found in Germany and is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the word "ofer", meaning "sacrifice". The surname is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages and may be an occupational name for someone who was a sacrificial priest or a worker in a chantry. Records of the surname date back to 1415 in Bavaria.
The name is most widespread in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, where it is considered one of the most common names. It is also found in small numbers in countries that had significant German emigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including the United States, Canada, and Brazil. In the United States, the Opfer surname is most common in Wisconsin and Minnesota, states with large numbers of German immigrants.
In recent years, the surname Opfer has seen a decline in usage and is considered rare today. It is estimated that around 6,000 people in the world bear the surname Opfer today, and most of the people who carry the name live in Germany.
Variations of the surname Opfer
Opfer is a German surname that can be traced back to the 14th century. It is an occupational surname that has withstood the test of time. The literal definition of the word opfer is 'offering', which is derived from an older Middle High German word for 'prayer'.
The variants and spellings of the surname Opfer are Opler, Oefler, Opfel, Oppel, Oppler, Oepfel, Oefel, Oebel, Offel, Ofel, Uebel, Uibel, Ubell, Eipel and Oefele.
These surnames all have different regional origins and come from different parts of Germany. Opler is predominantly found in the Rhineland Palatinate region, while Oefler and Eipel are more common in Bavaria. Oepfel and Opfel are found in Saxony, and Oppel and Uebel are mainly found in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg respectively. Oppler, Uibel and Ubell are from the Palatinate region, while Oefel and Ofel are commonly found in Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia. Many of the variants, especially Offel and Oebel, are not limited to one region and can be found in multiple parts of Germany.
Despite the many variants of the surname Opfer, they all share the same origin and can all be traced back to the same family.
Famous people with the name Opfer
- Edgar Opfer Jr., a four-star Admiral in the United States Navy.
- Josh Opfer, Former NFL running back.
- Caroline Opfer, English classical violinist, member of The Albany Trio and Royal Northern Sinfonia.
- Pete Opfer, American professional baseball catcher.
- Wilma Opfer, British film and television actor.
- Dieter Opfer, German philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Potsdam.
- Janice Opfer, American Research Scientist and Professor at the University of Minnesota.
- Julia Opfer, German field hockey player.
- Mark Opfer, American visual effects artist and former Industrial Light & Magic effects animator.
- Marilyn Opfer, American singer, songwriter, producer, and actress from Birmingham, Alabama.