Surname Orbek - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Orbek: What does the surname Orbek mean?
The last name Orbek is of German origin, derived from a personal name which is derived from "orbel", meaning "spear bearer". It is believed to have been an occupational name for someone who has been a spear bearer, such as a soldier or guard.
The surname was most likely adopted by a family who had a member who was an Ornal or spear bearer of some kind. This could be either a professional or a family member who took up arms in times of war or conflict.
Though not a common surname, those with the last name Orbek are likely to have historic ties to Germany. Common locations where the surname can be found include Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia, Mecklenburg, and Hamburg.
Orbek is quite a unique name and it is thought that it may have originated from the Middle High German word ‘orbil’ which means ‘a first-born son’ and possibly descended from those birthed by warriors.
In terms of heraldry, there are no military coat of arms associated with the Orbek surname. While the name may have been borne by members of a noble family, it is more likely that the name is a product of common folk.
In short, the last name Orbek is of German origin and believed to derive from a personal name which indicates a spear bearer. Those with the Orbek surname likely have historic ties to Germany or have descended from a first-born son of a warrior. There is no known military coat of arms associated with the Orbek surname.
Order DNA origin analysisOrbek: Where does the name Orbek come from?
The last name Orbek is most commonly found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is one of the most popular and frequent surnames in these Central European countries. According to a 2020 survey, Orbek is the 443rd most common surname in the Czech Republic and the 782nd most common in Slovakia. It is most common in the northern and central regions of the country, especially in the cities of Prague, Brno, and Ostrava.
Orbek is an old Slavic word which referred to a small fort. Some sources suggest it was also a word for “wild boar”, so it may also have been used as a surname derived from a nickname. It is uncertain when the surname was first adopted by a particular family, but it is likely that it has been in use in the region for many centuries.
The Orbek surname is now found in many other countries throughout the world, including the United States and Canada. This is due to both the migration of Czech and Slovak immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the recent trend of Czech and Slovak citizens relocating abroad.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of people who have the last name Orbek across the world currently. However, given its prevalence in Czech and Slovak populations, it is safe to estimate that there are at least hundreds of people with this surname living in each of the countries mentioned above, and likely many more living in other countries as well.
Variations of the surname Orbek
Orbek is a rare and distinctive surname of German and possibly Dutch origins. Its exact origin is currently unknown. It is believed to have first appeared in the United States and Canada in the 19th century.
Variants of Orbek include Arboc, Orbak and Orbock. Arboc is the most common variant of the Orbek surname and is most likely derived, at least in part, from the surname Orbek. It is not clear whether the variant spelling was adopted on purpose or as a result of an error when recording the original name.
The main spellings of Orbek are Orbek, Arboc, Orbak and Orbock. There is no known usage of any other spellings or surname variants.
Surnames of the same origin as Orbek include Berbek, Berbok, Berboeck, Berback, Berbak, Borbok, Orbeek and Orbeck.
Most of these surnames share some similarity to Orbek in their spellings and are likely derived from the same place or region of origin. This suggests that the various surnames are related in some way, possibly through a common ancestor. It is possible that the surnames of the same origin were created as locals adopted the name Orbek in their own particular way.
Overall, Orbek is an interesting and rare surname. It is believed to have originated in Germany and has several variants and spellings of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Orbek
- Taiwo Orbek, British-Nigerian singer, songwriter and musician.
- Robert Orbek, Austrian actor. 3.Alex Orbek, German TV presenter.
- Malee Orbek, Thai beauty queen and pageant titleholder.
- Giedrius Orbek, former professional footballer from Lithuania.
- Alina Orbek, Slovenian slalom canoeist.
- Marlan Orbek, former professional football player from Austria.
- Tibor Orbek, former professional football player from Hungary.
- Ervin Orbek, Slovenian footballer.
- Talin Orbek, Italian basketball player.
- Jouni Orbek, Finnish figure skater.
- Harri Orbek, Estonian football goalkeeper.
- Robertas Orbek, Lithuanian professional boxer.
- Jelena Orbek, Serbian singer and songwriter.
- Tjorben Orbek, German talent scout.
- Gabriel Orbek, Brazilian conductor and music teacher.
- Mei Orbek, Taiwanese pop singer and magazine model.
- Olga Orbek, Russian fashion and runway model.
- Grigory Orbek, Belarusian political figure.
- Volodymyr Orbek, Ukrainian sprinter.