Surname Odendal - Meaning and Origin
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Odendal: What does the surname Odendal mean?
The last name Odendal is of Dutch origin and is derived from a given name Oda, which is a short form of the Old German name names beginning with 'Odo.' People with Odendal as their surname are most likely descended from Dutch settlers who crossed the Atlantic beginning in the 17th century.
The Odendal surname is a division of the Van der Oeden family, which is derived from both the English and Dutch “ODEN” which means high, as in a hill or mount. This is indicative of the Dutch and English water-region landscape, where families built their farms on higher ground as a precautionary measure against seasonal floods.
The earliest record of the Odendal surname is for a farmer, Wagelane Oda, who lived in Willemstad, Holland in 1511. Wagelane was the progenitor of the Odendal branch of the Van der Oeden family and his property eventually passed to his son, Gerrit Oda, who married a woman named Helmin.
The Odendal name then spread from northern Holland to the Danish and German courts and, in the early protestant era, to James I of England. The Odendal family eventually moved to the United States in the late 17th century, settling in then-British colonies along the Eastern seaboard.
Today, the Odendal surname is common in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. The name carries a strong connection to its Dutch roots and is a proud reminder of the Odendal family's long and storied history.
Order DNA origin analysisOdendal: Where does the name Odendal come from?
The last name Odendal is most commonly found in South Africa. In fact, it is believed that the name dates back to Dutch colonial times and is one of the most recognizable Afrikaans surnames.
In the South African provinces of Limpopo and North West, around 2,500 people use the name Odendal, compared to the approximately 500 found in the Western Cape and the Free State. Although the last name is still concentrated in South Africa, since the mid-1800s emigration of Dutch settlers to other countries has contributed to a steady increase of Odendals popping up in countries all over the world.
The roots of the Odendal name can be traced to "Oudendal", meaning "old valley". This refers to a background of farming and agricultural roots. Other derivatives of the name include "Ouvendal", which translates to lower valley or large valley, and "Ottendal" or "Edendal" which generally expresses the idea of "restricted land".
Historically, the Odendal family in South Africa is connected with the De Villiers family, and the sole existence of two cemeteries - one built in 1795 at the South African village of Zonderwater and the other in the Netherlands in the 1800s - reveals a strong link between the two families.
Today, the last name Odendal is most commonly associated with South Africa, but its prominence can be found in namesakes in the Netherlands, Australia, England, Germany and the United States.
Variations of the surname Odendal
The surname Odendal is of Dutch origin and is quite a rare one. There are several variants, spellings and surnames derived from this name or related to it.
Some of the variants of Odendal include Odindal, Odendahl, Oudendahl, Oldendal, Oudendal, Odental, Edental, Odentel and Audendahl.
The spelling variations found are Odindal, Oudendal, Oldendal, Odendahl, Audendahl, Odental, Odentel, and Edental.
The related surnames are Ohdendahl, Oudendahl, Oudendahl, Udenhal, Udenhall, Udenholl, Oudenthal and Udenholle.
In addition, surnames that have originated from the Dutch word for deal – “doen” – also are related to Odendal, such as du Deal, Doen, Doens, Doense and DeVos.
Finally, the Dutch occupational names Doenman and Doelman also have a connection to Odendal.
Overall, Odendal is a unique surname, and its variants, spellings, and similar surnames provide links to a wide array of additional surnames, many of which are closely related.
Famous people with the name Odendal
- Deaglan Odendal: South African professional rugby union player
- Jacob Odendal: South African bishop in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa
- Duane Odendal: South African actor
- Henk Odendal: Dutch professional football midfielder
- Tommie Odendal: South African chef and restaurateur
- John Odendal: South African film and television producer
- Sharnell Odendal: South African fashion designer
- Leonard Odendal: South African professional golfer
- Avora Odendal: South African broadcast journalist