Surname Oberholzer - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Roots and History of my Surname Oberholzer through iGENEA’s DNA Analysis

Unraveling the mystery of my familial origin through iGENEA's DNA analysis, I gained profound insights about the Oberholzer lineage. Confirming my Swiss roots, tracing back to the Middle Ages, understanding migration patterns and potential health risks, the experience deepened my appreciation for my surname.

Y. Oberholzer

Oberholzer: What does the surname Oberholzer mean?

The last name Oberholzer is a German toponymic surname which means "upper lake". This likely refers to a lake or pond that was located higher up than the other surrounding bodies of water. It is thought that the name was first given to people who lived in a location near such a lake or pond.

The Oberholzer family is primarily found in southern Germany. There, the surname is associated with the region of Bavaria. Over the centuries, the family has branched out to other locations, such as Switzerland and Austria.

The coat of arms belonging to the Oberholzer family is a shield with three blue water lilies. This likely reflects the family’s link to the lake or pond from which their surname was derived.

The name is fairly uncommon outside of Germany, although there are a few known cases of people with the surname in other European countries.

Oberholzer: Where does the name Oberholzer come from?

The last name Oberholzer is common today in South Africa. People with this name likely have German-speaking ancestors who settled in this region in the 19th century. In the 19th century, a large number of Germans fled from persecution and poverty to Southern Africa. These families brought with them many German traditions, including surnames such as Oberholzer.

The name is a combination of two smaller elements: 'Ober' meaning 'upper' and 'holzer' meaning 'woodcutter'. This indicates that the ancestors of this family were likely miners or craftsmen who worked with wood.

Oberholzers are now scattered throughout South Africa, but they're especially common in the Western Cape province, which is known for its many Dutch and German settlers. Today, the surname is often found among Afrikaners and a population called the "Afrikaner diaspora."

Outside South Africa, small communities exist throughout Europe, especially in countries like Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. The name is also found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It is most likely that the people who settled in these countries in the 19th and 20th century were descendants of those who left Germany and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Oberholzer

The surname Oberholzer is a German patronymic name which originated from a geographical location. This surname was probably derived from a place-name such as Oberholz, meaning 'upper woods', which is found most commonly in regions such as Switzerland and southern Germany.

The variations of this surname exist in both spelling and form. The variant spellings of Oberholzer include Oberholzer, Abberholzer, Oberhozer, Oberholser, Oberhosler, Opperholzer and Oppholz.

In some countries, this surname has also taken its form according to the tradition of surnames. For instance, in Sweden, the Oberholzer surname is spelled Uffelius, Ufvils and Uffelius. On the other hand, in Norway, the surname Oberholzer is spelled Eiberholtz and Opdahl.

The surnames Borbhelzer, Hafewitzer, and Wysspler are also related to the Oberholzer surname. These variants are most likely formed from the first name of older generations of the Oberholzer family, such as the variants Stobernholzer, Stoberholzer and Hooberholzer.

In addition, the form of Oberholzer might also be found with the prefix "von" in some countries. This form of the surname became very common in Austria and Germany, where prefixes "von" and "zu" were used as part of aristocratic surnames. Thus, the surname Oberholzer could also be found spelled as von Oberholzer or zu Oberholzer.

Famous people with the name Oberholzer

• Stefan Oberholzer- professional Swiss racing driver
• Sean Oberholzer- professional mountain biker
• Ida Oberholzer- German opera singer
• Robert Oberholzer- Swiss footballer
• François Oberholzer- motor racing driver from Switzerland
• David Oberholzer- CEO of a financial services firm
• Walter Oberholzer- Swiss sculptor
• Hugo Eduardo Oberholzer- retired professor and former dean of the medical school of the University of the Andes in Chile
• Theo Oberholzer- South African artist
• Emma Oberholzer- German film actress

Other surnames

OberholtzerOberholzOberholzner