Surname Oehlhorn - Meaning and Origin
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Oehlhorn: What does the surname Oehlhorn mean?
The last name Oehlhorn is of German origin and is derived from the German word “Öhlhorn”. The term is derived from “Öl” meaning “oil” and “Horn” meaning “corner or corner of land”. Thus, the term is interpreted to mean someone who owned land or lived near land where oil was produced or stored by the locals. Other interpretations of the term suggest that the name refers to a person who lived near a forest where they used oil to help in the curing of hides and in the treatment of leather goods.
The surname is believed to have originated in the German state of Bavaria, where it is still most commonly found today. In fact, Oehlhorn is one of the most common surnames in Germany, drawing primarily from the area between Stuttgart and Munich. In addition to Bavaria, the last name is also distributed in parts of Austria and Switzerland, due largely to immigration from Germany over the centuries.
Oehlhorn is a surname that has been carried by a variety of surnames holders, ranging from those in business and politics to teachers and musicians. In the United States, the surname was recorded as early as the time of the Civil War, when soldiers from Bavaria surnamed Oehlhorn served in the Union Army.
Ultimately, the surname Oehlhorn carries with it a long history of heritage and a proud association with the region of Bavaria. It is an excellent example of how surnames evolve over time, and demonstrate the fascinating etymological history of German surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisOehlhorn: Where does the name Oehlhorn come from?
The last name Oehlhorn is most commonly found in Germany today. Oehlhorn's origin dates back to the Middle Ages, and early records of the surname suggest that it was likely bearers who lived in the region of Oldenburg in the German state of Lower Saxony. The name is derived from the Old German words "oho" meaning "mountain," and "horn" meaning "corner," so it is likely that this family was connected to the nearby mountain range.
In the 16th century, the Oehlhorn family moved to the nearby region of East Frisia and founded several villages there, and later the name spread throughout Germany. Today, most families bearing the name can be found in the Lower Saxony region, particularly in the cities of Osnabrück, Oldenburg, Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel, Emden, and Hannover. Oehlhorn is also prevalent in the neighboring state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Outside of Germany, the name Oehlhorn can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and South Africa, where descendants of the original Oehlhorn family migrated over the past centuries. It is likely that Oehlhorn will continue to be found in Germany and around the globe for many more years to come.
Variations of the surname Oehlhorn
Oehlhorn is a German surname that originates from the Middle German personal name, Olhorn. It is an Old High German name, characterized by the prefix “Oel-“, meaning “foreigner” or “heritage”.
The spelling variations of the name Oehlhorn include Oehlhorn, Ehlhorn, Ohlhorn, Elhorn, Ulhorn, Holhorn, Oelhorn, Oilhorn, and Oulhorn.
This surname is also known in other spellings, such as Ohlhorn, Oehlern, Oehler, Oehl, Oehlermann, Oehlmann, Olmen, Oehlmayr, Oehme, Uhlhorn, Ulhorn, Uhle, Ule, Ulle, and Oelmann.
The surnames Ohl, Olmen, Ohlman, Oehler, Oelmann, Oehlermann, Ehlert, Oehlmayr, Oehme, Oulmann, Olman, Oelmen, Uhlman, Uhlhorn, and Uhlmeyer are derived from Oehlhorn.
The variations in spelling of Oehlhorn may date back to the French Huguenots who brought Oehlhorn to America, circa the 1700s; immigrants, often poor and illiterate, were likely encouraged to change their existing name to that of a prevailing English variant. Although the Oehlhorn spelling has been more prevalent in Europe, it may still be found in the United States under a variety of spellings.
Oehlhorn is a distinctively German name, and its various spellings are often found in towns near the Rhine river valley. It is most commonly found in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and less commonly in the US.
Famous people with the name Oehlhorn
- Marcel Oehlhorn: German actor who was part of the ensemble in Til Schweiger’s feature film Keinohrhasen.
- Alexander Oehlhorn: German freestyle skier who won bronze in the 2019 World Ski & Snowboard Festival Canada.
- Franziska Oehlhorn: German professional handball player who plays for the clubs Borussia Dortmund and the German National Team.
- Raffael Oehlhorn: German television presenter best known for hosting the popular show Global Gladiators.
- Leonard Oehlhorn: German mountain climber and frequent contributor to the magazine Alpinismus.
- Torsten Oehlhorn: German entrepreneur and founder of the renewable energy company Eco Energy Solutions.
- Wolfgang Oehlhorn: German professor of classical philology who wrote several books and essays on classical Greek and Latin literature.
- Friedrich Oehlhorn: German painter, printmaker and draughtsman who was part of the first wave of the German Expressionist movement.
- Luciana Oehlhorn: German actress and model best known for her role in the Netflix movie Summertime.
- Gottfried Oehlhorn: German sculptor whose works often focused on the human form.