Surname Aulenbach - Meaning and Origin

Aulenbach: What does the surname Aulenbach mean?

The last name Aulenbach is an occupational surname, believed to originate from the medieval region of Bavaria, Germany. The name is derived from the Old German phrase “aln” which refers to a stream or small river. This name may have been given to those who lived by a stream or river or who made use of its water in their occupations such as farming, fishing, and milling.

The word “bach” in this name refers to a small stream or river, and the full name together could literally mean “stream of the auls”. Auls is a Germanic term used to refer to the Beech Tree, which was an important natural resource to people in the medieval era. This suggests that the Aulenbach surname may have been given to people who lived or worked near a Beech Tree or Beech Tree stream.

The Aulenbach surname is found in records of immigrants from Germany to Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, there are numerous people with this surname living in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and neighbouring states, who are believed to be descended from those early immigrants.

Aulenbach is not a particularly common surname today, although research suggests that the surname dates back centuries and is rooted in an important element of nature and labor. Its presence in the US today speaks to the strength and endurance that immigrants have had to often-harsh conditions in order to seek a new life.

Aulenbach: Where does the name Aulenbach come from?

The last name Aulenbach is found among the population in the United States, Germany, and Austria today. It is believed to be of German origin, and it is likely derived from a combination of two German words, aul, meaning "furrow" and bach, meaning "brook", forming the literal translation of "Furrow Brook".

In Germany, the Aulenbach family is more widespread in the south, especially Bavaria, Thuringia, and along the western border. The highest concentrations of the Aulenbach surname are found in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, followed by Bavaria and then Hesse.

In the United States, the Aulenbach surname is found in the Midwest with a focus on Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, though smaller settlements of Aulenbachs are scattered throughout the rest of the country. It appears that many Aulenbachs moved to the United States following the mid-1800s, likely to escape poverty and life in a rural, agriculturally-based society.

Meanwhile, the surname Aulenbach is found in notable numbers in Austria, particularly around Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. It is unknown when or how the surname first arrived here, though it has been documented in this country for centuries.

In all three countries, the Aulenbach surname is still quite common today, and it is likely that there are many distant relatives living around the world. We may never know exactly how all the Aulenbachs of today are related, but their shared purpose and surname creates a sense of unity and cooperation among them.

Variations of the surname Aulenbach

The surname Aulenbach is a regional spelling and is common among German and Swiss families. The alternate spellings of this name are Anlenbach, Allenbach, Ailenbach, Aylenbacher, and Eulenbach. These variant spellings of the name can be found throughout Germany and Switzerland.

In German, Aulenbach is a locational name deriving from the place ‘Allebach’, which is a combination of the German words ‘Alle’ (valley) and ‘bach’ (stream). This place name likely refers to a small stream of the same name that runs through the area.

In Switzerland, the surname Aulenbach is commonly found in the cantons of Valais and Schaffhausen. The name is also quite common among those of Swiss-German descent.

The original form of the name Aulenbach in Switzerland was probably ‘Ailenbach’. It is likely that the ‘Ai’ was simplified to ‘Au’ when the name spread to other countries. In Germany, the surname is also found as Alllenbach or Ayllenbach.

The Swiss form of the name, Aylenbacher, is also popular in Germany and the United States. In the United States, variants of this name include Aylenbacher, Allenbach and Eulenbach.

In addition to the various spelling variations of the surname Aulenbach, other related names also exist. In Germany, variants of the name include Allbach, Alllenbach and Allenberger, while in Switzerland, related surnames include Aellenbach, Aellenbacher, Aylenbacher and Eulenbacher.

Famous people with the name Aulenbach

• Louis Aulenbach: a Polish-American embodiment artist and teacher.
• Wes Aulenbach: a former professional ice hockey player.
• Victoria Aulenbach: a Ukrainian rower who won gold at the European Rowing Championships in 2005.
• Shane Aulenbach: an Australian professional motocross racer.
• Pete Aulenbach: a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Marty Aulenbach: a former professional American football player.
• Mark Aulenbach: a contemporary American painting artist.
• Laura Aulenbach: a German painter and photographer.
• Karl Aulenbach: a former professional race car driver.
• Jake Aulenbach: an American singer and songwriter.

Other surnames

Aulenbacher