Surname Overrath - Meaning and Origin
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Overrath: What does the surname Overrath mean?
The German surname Overrath can be traced to a location, as well as an occupation. Taken from the old Germanic words 'over' and 'rath', the name Overrath literally translates to 'over council', 'above the council', or 'higher council'. Thus, the surname likely originates from a place where people gathered for a council or similar meeting, such as a town square, court, or other public place.
Historic records also suggest that the name Overrath could have been taken up by someone in a position of authority, such as a teacher, judge, disciplinarian, or even a head of the local militia.
Though the origin of the surname Overrath remains a mystery, it's likely that the name is closely linked to its original origin. Over the centuries, the surname gained popularity and spread to different regions of Europe and eventually the rest of the world.
Today, the surname Overrath is still common in Germany, but it is far from limited to only this part of the world. People with the surname Overrath can be found in countries all around the world, with many settling in major cities such as London, New York, and Melbourne.
Order DNA origin analysisOverrath: Where does the name Overrath come from?
The last name Overrath is most commonly found in Germany. Although it is believed to have its roots in the Low Countries (now modern day Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), Overrath has become a common surname in Germany, with variants Overath and Oberath.
Recent statistics show that approximately 8,500 people in Germany bear this unique last name, with most of them living in the north, near the cities of Kiel, Lübeck, and Hamburg. In the border region of Rheinland, the surname Overrath is the 20th most common name, indicating its prevalence in this area.
Outside of Germany, individuals with the last name Overrath may be found in France, the United States, and the Netherlands, with the highest concentrations in the Midwestern United States. A majority of individuals with the Overrath surname in the United States have German ancestry, having likely immigrated to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is believed that the name Overrath may have originally been derived from the Middle Low German words "ōver" meaning "above" and "rāt" meaning "counsel." Thus, the name may have derived from the term "above the counsel" or "seeking counsel from above."
Variations of the surname Overrath
The surname Overrath is an occupational name, typically identified with a person engaged in some sort of trade or craft of a customs collector. It is typically found in areas of Germany, particularly in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. The spelling and variants of Overrath can be found in records such as those from Dutch, German and French regions.
Variants of the surname Overrath include Oferroth, Oerroth, Oerrode, Oerrothe, Oerrote, Oerroden, Oerrothke, Oerratz, Oerraath, Oerraf, and Oerrew. All of these represent various spellings of the original name, which may have been derived from occupations such as a customs or tar collector.
In addition to the variants of the surname Overrath, other spellings and surnames of the same origin are Oeverrath, Overesrahe, Oeverett, Overath, Overhaus, Overgaar, Overhoot, Overharts, Overhause, Oferrate, and Oerrate. These other spellings may be linked to a specific dialect or region.
The surname Overrath has been found in records in Holland and Germany since the 1300s, although its oldest known ancestor is believed to be a woman named Margaretha van Overrath, born and raised in Germany in the 1600s. This was a fairly common name, and due to migration and emigration of the generations who followed, the spelling and variants of the surname can be found throughout Europe, as well as some parts of North America.
Famous people with the name Overrath
- Olaf Overrath: German rugby union player who played for SC Ottenheim and the National Germany Rugby Team.
- Lothar Overrath: German jurist, professor and educator, known for his contributions to environmental law in Germany.
- Hilke Overrath: German artist, best known for her illustrations of children’s books.
- Thorsten Overrath: German footballer, plays as central midfielder for the Chemie Leipzig team.
- Albrecht Overrath: German painter whose works are mostly found in web art galleries.
- Guido Overrath: German actor, known for his roles in the film Schindler's List and the TV series Das Boot.
- Heidi Overrath: German sculptor, she has exhibited internationally and is also a performance artist.
- Harald Overrath: German professional golfer, he competed in the European Tour from 1961 to 1965.
- Matthias Overrath: Former professor of physics and strength of materials at the University of Greifswald.
- Karl Overrath: German politician, member of the Bundestag from 1990 to 2002 for the Social Democratic Party.