Surname Oberholz - Meaning and Origin

Oberholz: What does the surname Oberholz mean?

The last name Oberholz is of German origin, and it means "above the woods". This is likely a reference to a person or family who lived in a place that was located above a wooded area. The origin of this surname can be traced back to at least the 15th century in Germany, and it likely came from a geographical location. The name likely originated with the German word ober meaning "higher" set in combination with holz meaning "woods".

Oberholz is a common last name in Germany, where it may have been derived by a family that lived near a wooded area. It is also present in other countries as a result of immigration from Germany, including Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and some other countries.

Those who carry the surname Oberholz may take from it a sense of history, as it was used by German families in the distant past. The name also serves to remind a person of his ancestry and heritage. Each individual carrying this name is part of a long line of people who were able to call a place "above the woods" their home.

Oberholz: Where does the name Oberholz come from?

The last name Oberholz is believed to be of German origin and is not particularly common today. While its geographic origin is largely unknown, it appears to be most frequently found in the United States, Germany, and South Africa. In the United States, most individuals named Oberholz live in Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Florida, with the largest population in Pennsylvania. Likewise, in Germany Oberholz is mostly seen in the states of Bavaria and Hesse, while in South Africa it is concentrated in Gauteng and Western Cape.

In the United States, the Oberholz surname is most often associated with German-American communities whose ancestors migrated to America during the 1700s and 1800s. In the mid-1800s, many of these families had settled in Pennsylvania where they largely belonged to the Lutheran faith. Over the years, Oberholz surname holders from German-American communities have found homes in all parts of the United States and have become successful members of the professional classes, from doctors and lawyers to professors and business owners.

Oberholz families in Germany continue to be associated with German Reformed and Lutheran churches, and many still live in rural areas of Bavaria and Hesse. In South Africa, the presence of Oberholz families is believed to be largely related to immigration during the late 1800s and early 1900s, when German immigrants arrived and settled in the emerging cities of Gauteng and Western Cape.

Overall, the Oberholz surname is not particularly common today, although its presence is most steadily maintained in the United States and Germany.

Variations of the surname Oberholz

The surname Oberholz is of German origin and means ‘upper wood’ or ‘high forest’ in English. Given its German spelling, the variants and spellings of this surname include:

- Oberholtz

- Oderholz

- Oberholzsch

- Oberholts

- Oberholzer

- Oberholzers

- Obergoltz

- Oberholtzer

- Oberholzner

Additionally, surnames of the same origin include:

- Orbolz

- Erbel

- Orbolt

- Erbold

- Orboltz

- Erbalz

- Orboltzsch

- Erbolz

- Orbolters

- Erbals

- Overtoll

- Obertol

Variants and surnames of the same origin usually arise due to mistakes made when recording names in official documents because of unfamiliarity with the spelling, or because of pronunciation differences in dialects.

Famous people with the name Oberholz

• Helmut Oberholz: German politician who served in the Bundestag from 2009 to 2017.
• Bjorn Oberholz: South African hip-hop artist and producer.
• Lars Oberholz: German goalkeeper who currently plays for SV Griesheim.
• Amelie von Oberholz: German actress who appeared in the 2015 film Electric Footsteps.
• Martin Oberholz: German ice hockey player who was part of the gold medal-winning German team at the 2009 IIHF World Championship.
• Konrad Oberholz: German composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Berlin.
• Johannes von Oberholz: German painter and sculptor, known for his presence and participation in numerous exhibitions throughout Europe.
• Johann Oberholz: Prussian general who served in the Napoleonic Wars and played a major role in the Battle of Leipzig.
• Eric Oberholz: German actor and director, known for his work in the TV series 'Unter Uns'.
• Eugen Oberholz: German composer and conductor who wrote several successful operettas and musicals.

Other surnames

OberhofOberhoferOberhoffOberholtzerOberholzerOberholzner