Surname Oberwoerder - Meaning and Origin
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Oberwoerder: What does the surname Oberwoerder mean?
The last name Oberwoerder is a German name, that comes from the High-German language. The name is derived from two distinct nouns; the words “ Ober” meaning Upper, and “wort” meaning words or language. Combined it literally means “Upwords” or “Highest Words”.
The Oberwoerder surname is an occupational name, similar to Smith, which means the name's original bearer worked as a scribe or elocutionist. In the Middle Ages Germany was a highly stratified society, with strict class boundaries. The Oberwoerders were highly educated men and often of a noble birth, and their role was as recorder of legal documents, laws, histories, and \ probably poems and stories.
In feudal times, the members of this family would have been responsible for keeping records, making sure that justice was correctly administered, and helping the nobles in their dealings. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Oberwoerder name had spread all throughout Germany, going as far north as Denmark and as far south as Austria.
The Oberwoerder name is associated with a long list of influential people throughout centuries. The most famous of these was Johannes Oberwoerder, a famous scholar who was highly venerated during the sixteenth century.
Today, the Oberwoerder name is still proudly borne by members of the same family all around the world. Most of these individuals are highly educated people with a passion for justice, education, and the betterment of society as a whole.
Order DNA origin analysisOberwoerder: Where does the name Oberwoerder come from?
The last name Oberwoerder is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a German last name that was derived from the Middle High German language and has roots in the Middle Ages. The name is traditionally of Germanic origin and is derived from the words "obere" meaning higher and "wurt" meaning plot of land. This surname is believed to have been given to one who had a higher plot of land or had some sort of elevated title or distinction.
Many still living with the name Oberwoerder in Germany can trace their roots all the way back to the Middle Ages. Additionally, the name can be found in other region of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as some countries in North America, including the United States, Canada, and parts of South America.
Today, the last name Oberwoerder is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Though the frequency of the last name has decreased over the centuries, it is still a recognized and respected name in the region. Common occupations for individuals with this name in Germany include service-related occupations, such as civil service, finance, and other areas related to the professional services sector.
Variations of the surname Oberwoerder
The surname Oberwörder is of German origin and is most commonly spelt Oberwörder. It is also occasionally spelt Oberwerder, and Oberwoerder, however these may be deemed spelling variants. This surname is in turn very closely related to the surnames Oberwörden and Oberwortern. All three of these may be considered spellings of the same origin, deriving from the Old German words of Oberto and Warden, meaning the ‘upper’ and ‘guard’ respectively.
In Lower Saxony, the surnamesocking habits Otte, Oth and Othke are also thought to be related to the surname Oberwörder, as a place called Oth is known to exist near the location of Oberwörder’s origin. Similarly, the Low German surnames Oeper, Uper and Uperwörden are also believed to be linked to Oberwörder.
Interestingly, this surname is known to hold a strong family link with two other German surnames, Weidemann and Finke, which are also thought to share an identical origin. The spellings of these surnames may vary slightly from region to region, but are generally spelt: Weidemann, Weidmann, Widman, Widmann and Vinke. Therefore, individuals having any of the aforementioned surnames may be related to those bearing the surname Oberwörder, likely having stemmed from a single ancestor.
Famous people with the name Oberwoerder
- Felix Oberwörder (born 1971), German Rechtsanwalt (lawyer) and author
- Anton Oberwörder (1916: 2005), Swiss sculptor
- August Oberwörder (1833: 1918), Bavarian organist
- Matthias Oberwörder (born 1953), German conductor
- E. W. Oberwörder (1902: 1991), American sculptor
- Josef Oberwörder (1887: 1976), Austrian actor, director and screenwriter
- Hermine Oberwörder (1921: 2005), German sculptor
- Rosa Oberwörder (1790: 1856), German actress
- Wilhelm Oberwörder (1871: 1943), German composer
- Jakob Oberwörder (born 1962), German photographer and visual artist