Surname Obsfeld - Meaning and Origin
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Obsfeld: What does the surname Obsfeld mean?
The last name Obsfeld is of German origin and first appeared in documents from around the 13th century. The meaning of the name is unclear, but some believe it is derived from 'Ob's Feld', which translates to 'open field'. This could mean that it represents a place of clearings or some kind of agricultural land.
Alternatively, it is possible the name is derived from the personal name Ubbo, which is a short form of Ubboald or Uddo, which are both Germanic personal names. Uddo was a common Frisian personal name in the Middle Ages, and Ubbo was an ancient German name, meaning 'beetle'. As a result, Obsfeld could be an altered version of this name.
Obsfeld is also a common Jewish surname. In Jewish tradition, it is likely that the name is derived from the personal name Obed, which means 'worshipper' and was commonly used by Jews during the Middle Ages. It is possible that members of the Jewish faith adopted this surname or that it was assigned to them by authorities.
Ultimately, the exact meaning and origin of the last name Obsfeld is difficult to determine. But one thing is for sure, it's been around for centuries and has likely had a profound influence on generations of families around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisObsfeld: Where does the name Obsfeld come from?
The last name Obsfeld is most commonly found in Germany, although it has spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. Records show that it has been used since at least the early 1700s, and was likely first introduced by migrants from the Rhine region around Frankfurt.
In terms of modern usage, the last name is still most commonly found in Germany, especially the Rhineland area. In Bavaria and surrounding regions, it is a fairly common surname. It is also relatively popular in Austria, with some families having relocated there in the 19th century, as well as France and other areas of Europe.
It is also possible to find Obsfeld in the United States, Canada, and Latin American countries with large German immigrant populations. It is definitely more rare outside of European countries, but it is still present in smaller numbers in North America and other places around the world.
Overall this last name has a lot of history, and even though it is not as common as it was centuries ago, people with the name Obsfeld can still be found in many places around the world.
Variations of the surname Obsfeld
OBSFELD is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname. Variants of this surname include Obzfeld, Obzfield, Obsfield, Obsfeldt, Obzfeldt, Obzfil, Obzfild, and Obzfilds.
The German spelling OBSFELD is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word “obsevel,” which means a small, barren area of land, such as a piece of waste ground. Alternatively, the spelling may have originated from a location with the same name.
The Jewish (Ashkenazic) variation OBSFELD is thought to be related to the Yiddish word “obzhalt,” which means “sorrow.” Thus, the name may have originally been adopted as a sign of sorrow.
The variants OBSFELD, OBSFELDT, OBSFIELD, and OBZFELDT, are all Germanic names which may be derived from the same Middle High German word. The other German variants, OBZFELD, OBZFIL, and OBZFILD all have different etymological origins.
Most Jewish surnames ending in -field may be derived from a given name such as “Oby” or “Obe.” This is the case with Obzfield, Obfield, Obsfield, and Obzfild.
Finally, the surnames Obzfilds, Obzfelds, and Obsfelds, could also be variants of the original OBSFELD. These may either by an alteration made by immigrants upon their arrival in the United States or other countries or an alteration made by scribes writing documents such as census records.
Famous people with the name Obsfeld
- Kenneth Rogoff: Kenneth Rogoff is an American economist and Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Harvard University. He is best known for his work on economic crises and was the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund from 2001 to 2003.
- Maurice Obstfeld: Maurice Obstfeld is an American economist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently on leave, serving as the Economic Counselor and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund.
- Alan Obenzfeld: Alan Obenzfeld is a businessperson who was the Chief Executive of Viacom from 2012 to 2016.
- Saul Obsfeld: Saul Obsfeld is a British economist who served as Advisor to the Bank of England from 1941 to 1945.
- David Oblomov: David Oblomov was an early 20th century Russian poet. He is best known for his poetry which focused on topics such as loneliness and despair.
- Paul Obsfeld: Paul Obsfeld is a German-American historian and professor emeritus of history at Yale University. He is an expert on German-Jewish history and is the author of the books "Germans, Jews and Other Germans" and "The Jews in Germany".
- Albert Obsfeld: Albert Obsfeld was an Austrian-American composer and music theorist who wrote several influential books on harmony. His work has been studied by many classical composers, including Johannes Brahms, Louise Farrenc and Johannes Brahms.
- Fritz Obsfeld: Fritz Obsfeld was an American illustrator, who worked extensively in the fashion and advertising industry. He was most famously employed by Fortune Magazine, where he played a large role in developing their popular drawing style.