Surname Oelhorn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Oelhorn: What does the surname Oelhorn mean?
The last name Oelhorn is a German surname that originated from the name Ole, a diminutive of the name Olaf. The 'horn' added to the end of the name likely stems from an Old Norse word meaning “corner” or “promontory.” The combination of Ole—from the Old Norse name Óláfr—and horn together created a surname that could have come from a person living near a prominent geographic feature (such as a mountain, a river bend, or a peninsula) associated with Ole or Olaf.
The Oelhorn family may have also found its origins as a place-name, derived from a family who lived near a place on a map with Ole or Olaf in the name (such as Olekirke, which means “Ole’s church,” or Bute — the Anglo-Saxon version of Ole or Olaf). In this case, the family would have received the name Oelhorn as the symbol of their local origin.
The name Oelhorn is still common in Germany today, and has spread to other parts of Europe, as well as to the United States. It is most often found as a surname but it can also be a first name for children.
Order DNA origin analysisOelhorn: Where does the name Oelhorn come from?
The last name Oelhorn is most commonly found in the Northern European countries of Denmark and Germany, and is spelled slightly differently in each country. In Denmark, the name is usually spelled Ølhorn, while in Germany it is usually spelled Oehlhorn.
In Denmark, the name has been traced back to the 1700s and its earliest use appears in the Danish Census Records in 1787. The Ølhorn family was most prominent in the Danish provinces of Lolland, Falster and Odsherred. In Germany, the surname Oehlhorn has a strong presence in the southern regions of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. It is thought to originate from the Middle German name Oelherren, which was likely a family name derived from a place of origin or some type of profession.
In the United States, the last name Oelhorn is not widely found. Fewer than 200 people hold the name today, according to Ancestry.com. The majority of people with this last name are of German or Danish descent, and most likely emigrated in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
In addition to Denmark and Germany, the last name Oelhorn is also present in small numbers in other European countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway. It is also found in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Oelhorn
Oelhorn is a surname of Germanic origins, and there are a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Oelhorn can sometimes be written as Oehlhorn or Oelhrn, and the latter spelling is the most common way it appears. It is also occasionally seen in its two-syllable forms, Ooelhorn and Oelhoern.
The variants of Oelhorn are Olhorn, Olehorn, Oulhorn, Uhlhorn, and Uhlenhorst. All of these are derived from the Old High German word “uhale”, which means “to roll over”. The name can also be seen spelled as Oellhorn, Ullhorn, Ullhorst, Uhlhornst, and even Ullhören.
Less common spellings and surnames of the same origin include Oehren, Oelren, Oelring, Oelrinden, Oelrinnen, Uelhörn, Ullhörn, Ulllhorn, Oehrens, Uhlhorns, Uhrhorns, and Uhlhörens.
Oelhorn is also associated with several Jewish surnames that have similar spellings and meanings, such as Ollman, Ollmann, Oelmann, and Ollig.
In summary, Oelhorn is a Germanic surname that is seen in a variety of spellings, with its main variants being Oehlhorn, Oelhrn, and Ooelhorn. There are also many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Olhorn, Olehorn, Oulhorn, Uhlhorn, Uhlenhorst, and Oehren. Additionally, there are several Jewish surnames with similar meanings, such as Ollman, Ollmann, Oelmann, and Ollig.
Famous people with the name Oelhorn
- Jan Eilorf Oelhorn: A Norwegian mathematician and crystallographer best known for his contributions to the study of crystal surfaces in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
- Karen Oelhorn: A Danish opera singer who has been active since the late 1990s. She has appeared on various opera stages around the world and has collaborated with several ensembles in Europe.
- Wilhelmine Oelhorn: An artist from Copenhagen, Denmark, popular in the mid-20th century. She was known for her oil paintings depicting scenes of quiet beauty in the Danish countryside.
- Hans Oelhorn: A Danish writer and poet. His books explored themes of nature, human emotions and spiritual musing. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958.
- Henning Oelhorn: A Danish-English theoretical chemist who worked on molecular orbital theory in the mid-20th century.
- Arne Oelhorn: A Danish film and television director who worked in the 1970s and 1980s. His works were mainly comedies and included the film "Kundskabens Træ" (1975).
- Helga Oelhorn: A German photographer from the late 19th century, known for her black and white portraits of urban life.
- Wilhelm Oelhorn: A German-born urologist and surgeon who developed several procedures for the treatment of urinary tract diseases. He was considered one of the most renowned urologists of his time.
- Vital Oelhorn: A German sculptor who worked in the early 19th century, specializing in Baroque-style pieces in granite and marble.
- Hugory Oelhorn: A German composer and musician, active in the beginning of the 18th century. He is known for his collections of vocal chorales and chamber works.