Surname Ostholt - Meaning and Origin
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Ostholt: What does the surname Ostholt mean?
The last name Ostholt is of German origin and can be found in records dating back to the 17th century. It is suggested that it is derived from the name of a settlement, or residence of a person known as "Ost" or "Holte". The word "ost" is derived from German meaning "east" and "holte" means "wood," suggesting that the originator of the name may have lived near a wood to the east.
The Ostholt family was a very prominent family at the time of the Great Migration, 1683 to 1772. Records show that the family spread from the Palatinate area and into nearby regions, most notably, the Rhine Valley. As they moved between regions, the family settled in different cities and adopted a variety of occupational trades, most commonly, working with trades in cloth, wool, or leather.
The Ostholt family also boasts distinguished members such as Karl Ostholt, who was a notable member of the German nobility during the 19th century. He served as a Justice Minister and later Minister of Education in Prussia.
Today, the last name Ostholt is most commonly found in German-speaking regions such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It has also spread to the United States, where it is still common today.
Therefore, the last name Ostholt most likely suggests a long-standing family history of German origin, with notable members who had a significant impact on the region. It also suggests a background in various trades, as well as a strong family identity and connection to the regions in which they settled.
Order DNA origin analysisOstholt: Where does the name Ostholt come from?
The surname Ostholt is primarily found in Germany today. It is a German locational surname, derived from the place name Ostholt, which is located in the district of Emsland in Lower Saxony, Germany. Historically, the area was important for its weaving industry and remains an important agricultural center in modern times.
The earliest known mention of Ostholt can be found in 1356 when a Henry de Osterholz was documented in a charter issued by Otto IV, Count of Guelders. It is believed that the name is derived from 'ost' meaning 'east' and 'holz' meaning 'wood', thus making it a descriptive surname referring to a person who lived near an eastern wood.
Today, Ostholt is a fairly common surname in the Emsland region. According to a 1999 survey by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Ostholt surname was the 5,994th most popular German surname, making it quite common in the area and placing it ahead of well-known German names like Brandt and Rossmann. Additionally, the surname Ostholt can still be found in parts of the United States and other countries to which the family has migrated over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Ostholt
The surname Ostholt is of German and Dutch origin and is derived from a place name derived from the Old German words "osan", meaning "god", and "holt" for a wood or grove. Variations and alternate spellings of the surname Ostholt include Osthold, Oesthold, Ostholdt, Oestholt, Osthald, Osthalt, Ostholte, Austholt, Westholt, Oostholt, Ostolt, Osterholt, and Osterholte, among others.
The surname Ostholt is also frequently used as a patronymic surname, with the prefixes listed in the variations being used in various combinations. Common patronymic surnames derived from Ostholt include Ostholdsen, Oestholdsen, Oestholtsen, Ostholtsen, Osthaldsen, Osthaltensen, Ostholtesen, Austholtsen, Westholtsen, Oostholtsen, Ostoltsen, Osterholtsen, and Osterholtesen.
In addition, Ostholt is also sometimes used as a metronymic surname, meaning that the surname is inherited from the originally female parent rather than the male. Common metronymic variants of this surname include Ostholdsdatter, Oestholdsdatter, Oestholtsdatter, Ostholtsdatter, Osthaldsdatter, Osthaltsdatter, Ostholtesdatter, Austholtsdatter, Westholtsdatter, Oostholtsdatter, Ostoltsdatter, Osterholtsdatter, and Osterholtesdatter.
Famous people with the name Ostholt
- Andreas Ostholt: German equestrian and Olympic champion.
- Katharina Ostholt: German dressage rider.
- Kirsten Ostholt: German para-equestrian dressage rider.
- Marcel Ostholt: German horseman, founder of the DRV Deutscher Reitverein.
- Sven Ostholt: German Olympic equestrian athlete who won an individual medal in 2012 London Olympic Games.
- Frauke Ostholt: German eventing rider who was a member of the German National Eventing Team.
- Niels Ostholt: German Training Instructor in Dressage at the Edward Barrows Riding Academy.
- Henning Ostholt: Former German National Show Jumping Team member.
- Germaine de Staël: French author and intellect who was born with the maiden name von Ostholt.
- Robert Ostholt: German show jumping trainer, member of the Gold Medal winning team in the 2008 discipline.