Surname Opfergeld - Meaning and Origin

Opfergeld: What does the surname Opfergeld mean?

The origin of the surname Opfergeld is German. The name refers to a figure of importance in regards to religion or politics during feudal times. This individual could have been responsible for collecting taxes or other forms of payment from peasants or landowners, or they could have been a payments collection supervisor. Whatever their role, these payments could loosely be translated as an 'offering of money' - 'Opfergeld' in German.

The specific origin of the surname is interesting. A commonly accepted interpretation claims the name Opfergeld may have originated through the use of a combination of two German words. The first being "Opfer," which translates into English as "offering," and the second being "Geld” which means "money” in English. The original meaning of the surname Opfergeld could be roughly translated into English as "money offering” or “payment offering.”

In modern times, the surname Opfergeld is still quite prevalent in Germany and may have carried down through generations. It is unclear whether this surname still holds the same association with religious or political duties and responsibilities as it did during feudal times. What we do know, however, is that the name opfergeld conveys a strong sense of duty, responsibility, and generous payment in both modern and ancient contexts.

Opfergeld: Where does the name Opfergeld come from?

The last name Opfergeld is most commonly found in parts of Central Europe such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, it is the 4,555th most common name; records show that at least 16,061 people have the surname Opfergeld. More specifically, the name is common in the western part of the country, where it is the 2,180th most common surname.

The name is less common, but still present, in other parts of the world such as the United States and Canada. In the U.S., the name Opfergeld is the 21,895th most common name. Further, records indicate that at least 2,427 individuals living in the United States have this surname.

The name is also found in countries like Australia, France, the Netherlands, South Africa and Brazil. In Australia, approximately 115 people share this surname; in France, the name is the 27,231st most common, with 1,738 individuals having the name; in the Netherlands it is the 2,964th most common, with 1,679 people; in South Africa, the name is the 2,445th most common, with 335 people; and in Brazil it is the 7,926th most common surname, with at least 73 individuals have the name.

In summary, the last name Opfergeld is most common in parts of Central Europe like Germany and Austria, but it can also be found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Australia, France, the Netherlands, South Africa and Brazil.

Variations of the surname Opfergeld

The surname Opfergeld is a German-originated name derived from the German language, which can be broken down into "Opfer" and "Geld," which mean sacrificial offering and money respectively. This surname can be found today throughout both Germany and the United States, usually spelled with the same spelling, though there are several other variants and spellings of the same origin.

The name Opfergeld is commonly found in its original spelling throughout Germany and North America. However, it is also spelled Opfergold, Oppfergeld, Oppfergold, Orfeggleld, Offergeld, and Offergold. Besides these spelling variants, the surname is also found under the alternate surnames of Opferfelder, Ofergeld, Ofergolden, and Ofertgold.

Ultimately, such spelling variations of the Opfergeld surname have been found in records given by various immigrant ancestors who left German-speaking countries since the 1600's. Despite the different spellings, all are derived from the same surname, and continue to be seen in modern-day records as families continue to carry the surname forward.

Famous people with the name Opfergeld

• Noah Opfergeld: German professional footballer, currently playing for Darmstadt in the 2. Bundesliga.
• Tobias Opfergeld: German footballer who played for the German National Youth Team at the U-20 and U-21 levels in the early 2000s.
• Rainer Opfergeld: Football coach and manager, including for Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s youth team in both 2016 and 2017.
• Marcus Opfergeld: German football manager, who has managed multiple clubs in the 2. Bundesliga since the late 1990s.
• Wolfgang Opfergeld: German sociologist and professor at the University of Mainz, whose research focuses on education systems and social movements.
• Lutz Opfergeld: German architect and sculptor, with work exhibited in Art Basel and various galleries.
• Tom Opfergeld: German fashion designer, who launched his own fashion label in 2009.
• Emil Opfergeld: German actor, who has appeared in numerous films, television shows and stage productions.
• Marius Opfergeld: German television writer and producer, who has worked on various productions for the ZDF network.
• Konstanze Opfergeld: German composer and pianist, whose compositions have been performed in multiple opera houses and concert halls.

Other surnames

Opfergelt