Surname Österlein - Meaning and Origin
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Österlein: What does the surname Österlein mean?
The last name Österlein is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "oster," meaning "east," and the diminutive suffix "lein." Put together, it can be translated to mean "little easterner." It was likely adopted by families who lived in an area to the east of their hometown.
The Österlein surname may be found in various forms such as Osterlein, Ostler, Osterel, Osterely, Ostemer, and Osterelle. It could also be found in other language variants such as Osterling, Auszterlein, Österling, and Österle.
During the Middle Ages, surnames were used to indicate a person's occupation or location of origin. In this case, the Österlein surname was likely used to indicate someone who was from the east. It could also be used to indicate someone whose occupation had to do with the east; such as a merchant of the east, a messenger of the east, a goldsmith of the east, or a shepherd of the east.
The name has been very popular in German-speaking countries and is strongly associated with German heritage and culture. As of 2019, it was one of the most frequently encountered German surnames in Germany. It is also quite popular in the United States, with over 2,500 people having this surname in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisÖsterlein: Where does the name Österlein come from?
Österlein is a German surname, primarily found in the southern regions of Germany. It may derive from the German town of Österlein in the state of Baden-Wurttemburg, or from the personal name Öster, a short form of Osterhard.
In Germany, the highest concentration of people with the last name Österlein are found in the Bavarian states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemburg, and the Thuringian states of Thuringia and Saxony. The rest of Germany still contains some sustained pockets of people with this surname.
Outside of Germany, the surname is still relatively uncommon. Some immigrated to other European countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Outside of Europe, Österlein is relatively rare. The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all contain small numbers of people with this surname.
Most of the people with the last name Österlein still trace their ancestry back to Germany. In recent years, however, the number of people with the last name has grown slightly, due to migrations from Germany to other countries. In the future, it may become more common as Österlein families continue to spread around the world.
Variations of the surname Österlein
The surname Österlein, originating from German and Austria, is a variant of the surname Oesterlein, Osterein, Osterlin, Osterein, Oeterlein, Öterlein, Österein, Ozterlein, Österly, Östlin, Östler, and Osterly. The vowel “e” is interchangeable within the various spellings. It can be pronounced as “œ” or like the English letter “e,” and so is often spelled interchangeably.
The name Österlein likely comes from the combination of German words “öst,” meaning east, and “lein,” meaning small. This implies the name was likely given to someone located near the east or in an eastern-facing location.
Some other common German surnames of the same origin include Österle, Österling, Österlitz, Österloh, and Österlik.
Additionally, there are a few variations of the spelling stemming from Austria that are not relevant within the German language. This includes Ostarn, Östrin, and Österer.
In Eastern Germany, the surname Österlein is also common and is spelt Osterein or Osterlein.
The surname can also carry over into other languages, such as Polish and English. An example is the surname Osterer–English spelling, which is an Anglicized form of the German surname Österlein.
In conclusion, the surname Österlein is rarely seen, especially outside of Germany and Austria. It is known for its variety of alternate spelling and variants, such as Osterin, Ostrin, Ostler, Ozterlein, and Ostarn. Furthermore, it can also take the form of surname Osterer in English. Ultimately, the origin of this peculiar name stretches back to the combination of German words “öst” and “lein”, denoting its literal meaning – east and small.
Famous people with the name Österlein
- Ulrike Österlein, a German Greens politician
- Jules Österlein, an Austrian poet
- Ferdinand Österlein, a duplication engraver in Munich
- Martin Österlein, a Munich painter
- Johann Josef Österlein, an Austrian altar painter
- Mathilde Österlein, a massage therapist from Spain
- Clara Österlein, an Austrian musicologist
- Bernhard Österlein, a German magician
- Max Österlein, a German carpenter
- Franz Österlein, an Austrian conductor
- Joseph Österlein, a German clergyman
- Johann Österlein, an Austrian painter
- Ernst Österlein, a German jurist
- Hermann Österlein, an Austrian historian
- Bernd Österlein, a German lyricist
- Erna Österlein, a German author
- Maria Österlein, an Austrian nurse
- Rudolf Österlein, a German wood carver
- Sven Österlein, a German artist
- Rudolf Österlein, a German architect
- LeoÖsterlein, a German sculptor