Surname Osterbrink - Meaning and Origin
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Osterbrink: What does the surname Osterbrink mean?
The last name Osterbrink is of German origin and is a habitational name. It is derived from any of the numerous locales throughout Germany that contain the word "Oster," which translates to “east” in English, and the word “brink,” which translates to “ridge” or “edge.” Those locales containing the name Osterbrink are likely situated in an area close to the eastern edge of their respective regions.
The Osterbrink name is related to the town of Osterbrink, located in the district of Wolfenbuettel, Germany. Records of this particular region date back as early as the 13th century.
People of the Osterbrink family have left their mark on history in a number of ways. In the world of business, Ludwig Osterbrink was the founder of the German coal mining company Osterbrink-HTR in 1868.
The Osterbrink surname is also found in American history as a number of Osterbrink families immigrated to the United States from Germany by way of Ellis Island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The last name Osterbrink continues to carry a strong presence in Germany, as well as the United States and other countries around the globe. With its ties to two powerful cultures, the meaning of the surname continues to live on.
Order DNA origin analysisOsterbrink: Where does the name Osterbrink come from?
The last name Osterbrink is most commonly found in Northwestern Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. It is also present in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Germany it is largely concentrated on the south and west side of the country, including the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Paltinate, Hesse, and Saarland. In the Netherlands it is found on the west side, with some presence in the south. In Sweden it is mostly concentrated in the south.
The earliest record of the name is a reference to a Andreas Osterbrinck from Groningen, Netherlands in 1652. He was likely born around the early 1700s, suggesting the name has been around for nearly 400 years.
Overall, the Osterbrink name is not particularly rare, but it is not widely dispersed either. It is likely more common among families in northwestern Europe, as well as in many places Soviet- and German-influenced regions of the United States and Canada. New Zealand has seen a rise in the number of people with this last name since the late 1990s, due to a large waves of immigration from Northwestern Europe. In Australia the name is mainly concentrated in Queensland and New South Wales.
Variations of the surname Osterbrink
The Osterbrink surname has many variants and spellings. One of the most common variant spellings is Osterbrinck. Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Osterbriink, Osterbrincke, Osterbrinke, Osterbrinzer, Ostbrinck, Österbrinck, Ostbrink, Østerbrink, Oestbrink, and Osternbrink.
Osterbrink originated as a locational name, likely referring to someone from a place called Osterbrink. This place name is composed of the elements “Oster,” meaning “east” in German, and “brink,” which has multiple meanings depending on the dialect and region of the name’s origin. It may refer to a ridge or an area of land that has been designated for a specific purpose.
In some cases, the Osterbrink surname may have originated as a nickname for someone who lived near or on the “east brink.” Alternatively, the name may also have originated from a farm whose name was derived from the elements “Oster” and “brink.” The Osterbrink surname is common in the Netherlands, especially in the province of Gelderland, as well as in the areas of Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium known as the Rhineland.
The name is also associated with its own coat of arms. In heraldry, Osterbrink is usually depicted as a red lion on a silver shield, with two roses below the shield and a small cluster of three oak leaves at the top. This symbol is an example of the ‘bend,’ which is a type of heraldic charge. The bend was meant to signify strength, courage, loyalty and protection.
Famous people with the name Osterbrink
- Uwe Osterbrink: German politician, state secretary in the German Ministry of Defense since 2014
- Jan Osterbrink: Dutch professional footballer
- Bing Osterbrink: AH-1 Cobras helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross
- Isabelle Osterbrink: Swiss businesswoman, advisor at the World Trade Organization
- Herbert Osterbrink: German Imperial Navy admiral
- Kurt Osterbrink: American politician, Mayor of Yankton, South Dakota
- Jenna Osterbrink: American actress, appeared in the films 'Low w/ road' and 'High Risk'
- John Osterbrink: American basketball player, member of the Final Four and All-Big Ten team at the University of Michigan
- Hans Osterbrink: German-born, Dutch-American psychologist, known for his work on behaviorism and cognitive therapy
- Arthur Osterbrink: American entomologist, worked at the Smithsonian Institution