Surname Umkehrer - Meaning and Origin

Umkehrer: What does the surname Umkehrer mean?

The last name Umkehrer is a German occupational name derived from the German term umkehren, meaning to reverse or turn back. In its original form, it was a descriptive name for a weaver who used the reverse weave technique, but it also had other applications in later history.

The surname Umkehrer first appeared in Germany in the 13th century. It can be found in records from many regions, including Bavaria, Westphalia, and Saxony, but its roots are thought to lie in the Palatinate region.

The family name has taken on a variety of spellings over the centuries. The earliest record of it appears as Umekoe-rer in records dating back to 1458, although other variants such as Umkehr, Ummker, and Umkehrer were also found.

It is difficult to trace the tendency of this name, but one interesting fact is that the name was more popular among protestants than Catholics. This could be due to the fact that Umkehrer moved from protestant regions to Catholic ones.

The sense of the name Umkehrer was closely associated with craftsmen, such as those who manufactured woven goods or worked in trades that required turning, reversing, or handling. In more modern history, this name has taken on a symbolic meaning to those who bear it, and is often used to refer to a person's ability to adapt to change or find a new approach to a situation.

Umkehrer: Where does the name Umkehrer come from?

The last name Umkehrer is predominantly found in Germany today. Specifically, the region of Bavaria is the most heavily populated area with the surname.

The Umkehrer name is thought to have originated from pre-Medieval times when many German surnames were based off of a person's profession. The word "Umkehrer" literally translates to "converter" or "transformer," likely alluding to a person in the metal works trade or related field.

The earliest recorded persons with the surname of Umkehrer dates back to the year 1540. There are several individual records of Umkehrers from Bavaria, showing up in various local records in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In modern times, the surname Umkehrer is associated with many German-based families. This is particularly true in the area of Bavaria, where the surname popularity is ranked at 59. It is believed that today, over 9,000 people carry the Umkehrer name worldwide, although only a fraction are likely to trace their lineage to Bavaria specifically.

Outside of Germany, the surname Umkehrer is also found in Austria and Switzerland. In the United States, the surname is less common, with a majority of people with the name tracing their roots back to Bavaria and Germany.

Variations of the surname Umkehrer

The surname Umkehrer is generally thought to originate from the German words "Umkehren" or "kehren" which means "to turn around". It is also believed to have come from the Middle High German "umecheren" which means "to turn again".

The variants of this surname include Umkehr, Umkher, Umlährer, Imkehrer, Imkehr, Umhrer, and Umlahrer. The most common of these variants are Umkehr and Umkher.

There are also several spelling variations of this name such as Umkehrer, Umlahrer, Imkehr, Umhrer, Umlährer, Umecheren and Umecherer. Another similar spelling variant is Ummehrer.

This surname can also be spelled following German orthography rules, including Umkehren, Umkehrers, and Umkehrz.

Several common surnames have derived from the original Umkehrer surname. These include Umkehrt, Umlahert, Umlerer, Umler, Umhrer, Umholer, Umlaher, Umlahrt, Umlaherz, and Umlahrez.

This name is also found as a given name in some places.

Despite the various spellings and variants of this surname, Umkehrer is commonly thought to have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Umkehrer

• Rosemarie Umkehrer, Swiss alpine skier who won twelve international medals from the 1950s to the 1970s.
• Owen Umkehrer, drummer for the band Annapurna, which released the 2019 debut album 'Coffeehouse Songs'.
• English poet and author John Umkehrer, who released a book of poems in 1999.
• Ewald Umkehrer, Austrian climatologist and climate scientist.
• American actor and comedian William Umkehrer, best known for his role in the hit TV series, Cheers.
• Gerlinde Umkehrer, German textile designer and teacher, who has been recognised with awards by the Currency Museum of the Deutsche Bundesbank and the Textile Research Centre.
• Austrian painter and sculptor Robert Umkehrer, whose works have been exhibited in galleries across Europe.
• Arne Umkehrer, a Norwegian professional golfer who won the Norwegian ITF Junior Circuit in 2002 and competed in ten European Tour events.
• German scholar of the early twentieth century Bernhard Umkehrer, who studied anthropology, statistics, and folkloristics at the University of Leipzig.
• Austrian professional ski racer Alexander Umkehrer, who competed in slalom and giant slalom events in the 1994 and 1995 World Cup.

Other surnames

Umkehr