Surname Oberth - Meaning and Origin

Oberth: What does the surname Oberth mean?

The last name Oberth is of German origin and is a topographic surname derived from the Old High German word “Ober” which translates to “higher” or ‘’upper”. The suffix “-th” was often added to the place name to indicate someone who was from that location. Oberth is a locality in Lower Saxony, located in the Emsland region.

The availability of local records suggests that the Oberth family likely originated in this area, with the first recorded instance of the name found to be that of Ernst von Oberth from Emsland circa 1150. This konorge may have taken his name from the location Oberth, where he lived. Through the centuries, the family came to hold various properties there.

By the 16th century, the name had been adopted by a number of families across Germany who may have descended from the original von Oberth family.

The name “Oberth” has been found in records from various places across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Scandinavia. In each place, the family was distinguished by its ancestral seat and the areas in which they lived.

The Oberth surname is common in today’s Germany, indicating its historical significance and the longevity of this particular family.

Oberth: Where does the name Oberth come from?

The last name Oberth is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a variant of the last name Oberdorf, derived from the German word "Ober" meaning "upper" and "Dorf" meaning "village." The earliest documented records of people bearing this name can be found as far back as the 11th Century in Germany, with the earliest known individual bearing the name being Dieterich von Oberdorf from around 1050. In the centuries that followed, more and more people bearing the name Oberth began to spread out and establish themselves in other regions of deutschland.

Today, a majority of people bearing the Oberth surname will be found in the southeastern corner of Germany. This is the region that included the modern-day states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. Furthermore, because Germany is a country with high levels of regional migration, it is possible to find people with the last name Oberth in other parts of the country as well.

Oberth is also a popular name among German emigrants who have settled in other parts of the world. Hence, people bearing this last name can also be encountered in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries around the globe.

Variations of the surname Oberth

The surname Oberth is a German last name, deriving from the medieval German word ‘Ober’, meaning “upper” or “high”. Due to slight variations in spelling across Europe, some of the variants and spellings of Oberth include Oberdt, Oberd, Oberdonk, Oberduck, Obert, Oberto, Oberti, Obertie, Overdick, Overdunck, Oberdick, Overdiek, Oberdunk, Oberduck, Oberth, Obertz, Oberdock, Oberdt, Oberditz, Oberdutt and Oberdutti.

In some cases, there have been variations of the German spelling, such as “Oberdt” in Northern Germany and “Obert” in the United States. In addition, surname spellings have changed over the years as families moved to different countries, resulting in names like Oberdiek becoming Overdiek, Oberdick becoming Overdick, and Obert becoming Overd.

The surnames Oberth and Obert are derived from the same origin and are nearly identical in pronunciation and spelling. The surname is also found in other countries, such as Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands and Eastern European countries. The variations in spelling are likely due to the individual country’s accent, dialect, pronunciation and spelling of the surname.

Since the spelling of names often changes over time, some of the current and past variations of the Oberth surname include Oberde, Oberdorfer, Obertel, Obertelli, Oberle, Polgár, Oberheim, Oberhauser, Oberhuber, Obermeijer and Onderkirk.

In summary, the surname Oberth is commonly found in countries across Europe. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Oberdt, Oberd, Oberdonk, Oberduck, Obert, Oberto, Oberti, Obertie, Overdick, Overdunck, Oberdick, Overdiek, Oberdunk, Oberduck, Oberth, Obertz, Oberdock, Oberdt, Oberditz, Oberdutt, Oberdutti and other variations.

Famous people with the name Oberth

• Hermann Oberth: German physicist and engineer known as the “Father of Modern Rocketry”, who laid the foundation for space travel and exploration.
• Herbert Oberth: German engineer and inventor, son of Hermann. Known for developing the world's first paper model rocket kit and launching the first model rocket in Germany in 1929.
• Johannes Oberth: German psychologist and author, son of Hermann. He was known as a pioneer in the field of psychology and pedagogy and was influential in the development of Gestalt psychology.
• Eugen Oberth: German physicist and aerospace engineer, son of Hermann and stepbrother of Herbert and Johannes. He built the first successful self-contained powered glider and the world's first rocket-powered aircraft.
• Oskar Oberth: German-American physicist and aerospace engineer, nephew of Hermann. He was a pioneering researcher in the areas of rocketry and high-energy physics and was an early proponent of using rocket-propelled spaceflight to explore outer space.
• Max Oberth: German-American physicist and aerospace engineer, nephew of Hermann and brother of Oskar. He worked on a variety of experimental aircraft designs and was an early pioneer in the area of rocket-powered flight.
• Maria Reiss Oberth: Austrian sculptor and ceramist, wife of Hermann and mother of Herbert, Johannes and Eugen. She was a respected figure in Austrian culture and was instrumental in the development of modern ceramics in Austria.
• Johann Oberth: Austrian-American sculptor, father of Maria Reiss Oberth. He was known for his iconic sculptures of the Austrian monarchy and the Austrian capital of Vienna.
• Robert Oberth: German-American artist, son of Johann and stepson of Maria Reiss Oberth. His oil and watercolor paintings were widely exhibited in Europe and the United States in the first half of the 20th century.

Other surnames

ObertOberthürObertinOberting