Surname Oechsner - Meaning and Origin
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Oechsner: What does the surname Oechsner mean?
The last name Oechsner is a German surname meaning "reed worker," derived from Middle High German. The surname, first used by descendants of the ancient Germanic tribes, came into use during the medieval period when occupational surnames were commonly adopted. Some bearing the Oechsner surname may have had ancestral occupations involving reeds, such as weaving, thatching, basket making and related crafts.
It is likely that the Oechsner family was among a large influx of German immigrants to the United States in the 1800s and early 1900s. The immigrants settled in many parts of the country, and the Oechsner name is now widely represented in several states. As German immigrants assimilated into American culture, many anglicized their surnames, such as changing the spelling or pronunciation, so other variants of the Oechsner surname may also exist.
The Oechsner family has also spread to many other parts of the globe, such as throughout Europe, Australia and South America. Despite its modern presence across the globe, the surname still pays tribute to its ancient Germanic roots, representing a long line of hardworking, skilled craftspeople of centuries past.
Order DNA origin analysisOechsner: Where does the name Oechsner come from?
The last name Oechsner is most associated with people who have ancestry from Germany. Although it is not among the top 100 surnames in Germany, there are still many Oechsner families living throughout the country.
In the United States, Oechsner is not a common surname. The most recent US Census data indicates that less than 1,000 people have Oechsner as a last name. Additionally, the Social Security Administration does not list Oechsner in the top 1,000 other surnames.
In the area of Northern Europe, especially Central Europe, Oechsner is still quite common. Based on a survey of German telephone books from 2005, it was listed among the top 500 surnames in the region. Further, it was among the top 100 last names in Austria, and among the top 500 in Switzerland.
Ultimately, Oechsner is a less common last name, particularly in the US. However, families with the name Oechsner are still found in many countries throughout Northern Europe and specifically in Germany and its neighboring states.
Variations of the surname Oechsner
The surname Oechsner is a German surname derived from an occupational name for a keeper of swine or a related animal, derived from the Middle High German word ‘eichener’ meaning swine husbandry. Variants of the surname include Ocher, Ochs, Ochsen, Ochsenreiter, Ockenreiter, Ockenryter, Ocks, Ocksen, Ocksner, Oechsle, Oexle, Oecker, Oetzle, Oxsen, Oksen, Oecksener, Oexl, Oexlauer, Woxle, and Wecksen.
Spellings of the surname Oechsner may include Echsner, Uechsner, Oächsner, Öchsner, Oechsener, Eckener, Eckenreiter, Eckner, Ochsenreuter, Oechsenreuter, Wecksener, Eichhner, Ecthner, Uechsmann, Uechtmann, Echensner, Ecksner, Eeckenreuter, Eeckner, Oechtmann, Uhsenreiter and Uxenreuter.
In addition, other surnames with the same origin may include Ochs, Ahrendt, Arndt, Armbruster, Arms, Axeler, Bähr, Bartels, Becher, Behrends, Bokert, Böcker, Brecht, Brehmer, Bücher, Danneberger, Enne, Ennen, Engert, Epp, Erren, Ewen, Fährmann, Fahrner, Fechner, Gehring, Gerich, Groehn, Groh, Gruhn, Grüneberg, Grüning, Hecker, Heidt, Helle, Henne, Heppner, Hilke, Iwers, Janßen, Kuhlmann, Koch, Kohl, Kochmann, Koenig, Krüger, Lange, Langhein, Löffler, Markert, Marx, Meiners, Merkle, Meyer, Mönnig, Nestle, Ohle, Pankow, Pirch, Rauh, Reimers, Rieke, Ring, Schmidt, Schmied, Schneider, Schroeder, Sellner, Seyler, Spies, Stegman, Steiner, Steinhaus, Steinmetz, Tenhagen, Tepper, Thiele, Vollmer, Wenzel, Werner, Wieger, Wiethoff, and Zehnder.
Famous people with the name Oechsner
- Felix Oechsner, German physician from the 18th century.
- Padraig Oechsner, ice hockey player active in the mid-20th century.
- Kari Oechsner, American women's basketball player, active in the late 20th and early 21st century.
- Peter Oechsner, German teacher during the 1800s.
- Cornelius Oechsner, prominent German educator in the early 20th century.
- Sandra Oechsner, German journalist active in the late 20th century.
- Alice Oechsner, German politician from the early 20th century.
- Johannes Oechsner, German poet and translator active in the late 19th century.
- Johann Oechsner, Swiss organist and composer from the same century.
- Karl Oechsner, German preacher and physician in the 1700s.