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Surname Oberschmied - Meaning and Origin

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Oberschmied: What does the surname Oberschmied mean?

The last name Oberschmied is of German origin and means "over smith". It is a topographic name given to someone who was the chief blacksmith of a village or group of people. During the Middle Ages in Europe, blacksmiths were a very important part of the local communities, as they provided a vital service by shaping and forging metal objects to help build and improve the lives of those around them. As a result, those in charge of the oversees of the blacksmith shop were held in high regard. Over time, the “Oberschmied” became a surname which signified the status and leadership position of a blacksmith.

Throughout the centuries, the Oberschmied family has spread all over Germany and other places in Europe. This – coupled with spelling variations – has led to numerous branches of this surname in the present day. Today, the Oberschmied surname is found in many countries, including Germany, the United States, and Canada.

The Oberschmied name is a reminder of those who worked hard in the past to create tools and commodities for their communities. Although their trade has changed dramatically over time, their contributions to the world have not been forgotten.

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Oberschmied: Where does the name Oberschmied come from?

The last name Oberschmied is most common today in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries. It ranks 17,497th in the German-speaking region in terms of frequency.

Oberschmied is thought to be a toponymic surname, derived from the German term “Ober” meaning “upper” and “Schmied,” or “smith.” As such, it is thought to have been a title given to an originally single family of artisans who lived near the upper end of a village and made their living as smiths.

As a surname, Oberschmied spread along traditional trade and migratory routes throughout Germany and neighboring countries, with the first documented recordings of the name appearing in the fifteenth century in Tyrol, Austria. Today, pockets of people with the surname are found across these regions, particularly in those that made up part of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In the United States, the surname can be found across many locations, with the highest concentration in the Midwest. It is estimated that around 8,000 Americans have the surname today, many of whom are descended from the same family of Austrian settlers who moved to the United States in the late nineteenth century.

Variations of the surname Oberschmied

The surname Oberschmied has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spellings are OberSchmied, Oberschmidt, OberSchmidt, OberSchmitt, ObberSCHMIED, ObberSchneider, ObberSchmieder, ObberSchmeider, ObberSchmiedt, OberSchmeider and Oberprecht.

The Ober prefix common in most of these variants and spellings comes from the German word for upper or superior, and is generally associated with a higher rank of authority or occupation. The Schmied translates to 'smith', thus referring to an occupation of blacksmithing, which was an important and almost prestigious job historically.

Variations of the surname have also been found in many other countries. In Austria, several spellings exist, including Obbergsagl, Obbergsogel and Obbergsogle. In neighbouring Germany, they appear as OberSchmied, Obermieder, OberKiefer, OberSTECHER and Oberstecherin. In Switzerland, a variant of the surname is found as Ofenmacher or Ofenmeister. One can also find the surname in Poland as Oberszmidt or Oberszmied, and in other parts of Europe such as Russia, France and Hungary.

These surnames can also be found in many other countries around the world, but most commonly in countries with German-speaking populations due to the etymology of the surname.

Famous people with the name Oberschmied

  • Norbert Oberschmied: a former Austrian professional football player, he later became a coach for various teams, including LASK, Rapid Wien, and 1860 Munich.
  • Hugo Oberschmied: Austrian biathlete who competed in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics.
  • Sybille Oberschmied: a German media scholar and professor at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
  • Peter Oberschmied: former Austrian judoka, he participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1990 World Judo Championships in Tokyo.
  • Manfred Oberschmied: composer, musician, producer, and songwriter from Vienna, active in the music industry since the 1980s.
  • Annemarie Oberschmied: Austrian professor from the University of Vienna.
  • Stefan Oberschmied: Austrian associated professor and entrepreneur, known for his work in the fields of maintenance engineering, materials science, and process engineering.
  • Erwin Oberschmied: Austrian professional triathlete and athlete, represented Austria at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Other surnames

OberschmidOberschmidt

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