Surname Ortlieb - Meaning and Origin

Ortlieb: What does the surname Ortlieb mean?

Ortlieb is a German surname derived from the Old High German word “ort,” which means “place.” It is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, when landowners or villagers assigned place names to their homes. The use of “lieb” as part of the name suggests that the family was well-liked in their community. Over the centuries, many families with the Ortlieb surname have made their mark on history.

In the U.S., there are many Ortliebs who have left their mark in history. The most famous being Jacob Ortlieb, who immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany and helped found the first Lutheran Church in the colonial United States. Others have gone on to become influential politicians, scientists, business leaders, and a multitude of other professions.

As the years have passed, the name Ortlieb has spread throughout the world, allowing its bearer to proudly display their Germanic ancestry. More recently, Ortlieb has become a popular surname for non-Germans. It is seen as a symbol of pride and courage, a reminder of how far one’s Germanic roots have come by spreading throughout the world. For those who call themselves Ortlieb, it is a reminder of their heritage and the strength of their ancestors.

Ortlieb: Where does the name Ortlieb come from?

Ortlieb is a surname that is most commonly found in Germany, although it is also found in many other countries throughout Europe, Australia, and North America.

In Germany, the surname Ortlieb has seen a gradual increase in popularity over the past century. Today, the name is mostly distributed throughout the eastern regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. In particular, the name is most prevalent in the city of Dresden and the surrounding region.

In 2019, Ortlieb was the 6,830th most common surname in Germany. Meanwhile, it was the 25,892nd most popular name in the United States and the 1,459th most popular in Austria. In the United Kingdom, it is a rare name, ranking 16,785th on a list of the most abundant surnames in the United Kingdom.

The name Ortlieb is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German word “ort,” meaning “place.” Therefore, it is presumed that the name was given to somebody who lived in a particular place or area.

The ancestor of all those who bear the surname Ortlieb is believed to have lived around the 10th century, with the name gradually becoming more widespread among German-speaking territories over the following centuries. Therefore, the Ortlieb name is likely to have been in existence for at least a thousand years.

Variations of the surname Ortlieb

The Ortlieb surname has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Orthlieb, Orthleb, Orthlib, Ortleb, Ortleib, Erdleb, and Erdleib.

The oldest ancestor of the Ortlieb family, known by name, is Siegfrid Ortlieb, born in 1175. He was born in Germany and is believed to have emigrated to Switzerland, though this is uncertain. Ortlieb is derived from the German word “Ortlip,” which means a “little bit of land.”

Ortlieb is one of the most common German surnames. There are many variants of the name, including the common spelling Orthlieb and Orthleb. Ortlieb may also appear as Ortleb, Ortleib, Erdleb, and Erdleib.

Ortlieb is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic. It is also found in other countries in Europe, such as Switzerland, Latvia, and Poland. However, the prevalence of Ortlieb varies in each country. In the United States, Ortlieb can be found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Many Ortlieb families are proud of their history and background, often trace their heritage to the earliest Ortlieb ancestors. There is a sense of pride associated with bearing the name, especially for those whose roots trace back to Bavarian nobility.

Another common way the surname is expressed is with the addition of “von” or “van”, changing the name to von Ortlieb or Van Ortlieb. This is especially seen in Austria and Bavaria, and occasionally in other countries in Europe.

Famous people with the name Ortlieb

• Jessi Ortlieb: a Canadian singer-songwriter known for her songs Shallow, Settle Back, In the Darkness and Stay The Night.
• Heck Ortlieb: a German-born American BMX racer who has been the overall leader of the United States Points Series since November 2017.
• Henning Ortlieb: a former German football player who played in the Bundesliga between 1971–1977.
• Werner Ortlieb: a former German soccer player who competed in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics for the German national team.
• Hinrich Wilhelm Ortlieb: a former judge of Germany’s Constitutional Court from 2003–2006.
• Ludwig Ortlieb: an early 20th century German entrepreneur who founded Ortlieb's Brewery.
• Howie Ortlieb: an American professional golfer who won the Oregon Amateur Golf championship in 2016.
• Klaas Ortlieb: a German sprint canoeist who has competed since the late 1990s in multiple World Championships and Olympic Games.

Other surnames

ÖrtliOrtlib