Surname Oelrichs - Meaning and Origin

Oelrichs: What does the surname Oelrichs mean?

The surname Oelrichs is of German origin and is derived from the Old German personal name "Odelricus". It is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally borne by the son of a person known by the German given name "Odelricus". It is a fairly rare name, but can be found in various regions across Germany and parts of Scandinavia.

The earliest known bearer of the surname was a certain “Odcric” who is mentioned in the 9th century Latin chronicle called the “Gesta Abbatum Fontanellensium”. In Germany, the name Oelrichs can be found as far back as the 13th century in various documents such as court records and land documents.

Today, the surname Oelrichs is found throughout Germany, a few scattered families in Scandinavia, and even a few in the countries of Estonia and Latvia. In the United States, the surname is mainly found in Wisconsin and Iowa, suggesting that the original settlers in those states were of German ancestry.

In summary, the last name Oelrichs is of German origin and is derived from the Old German personal name "Odelricus", and is a patronymic surname. It can be found in various regions across Germany, Scandinavia, and in some parts of the US. The surname is also quite rare, with most of the bearers stemming from the original German settlers in certain areas of the US.

Oelrichs: Where does the name Oelrichs come from?

The last name Oelrichs is of German origin. It is believed to derive from old German words for "wealth" and "riches". Today, the last name Oelrichs is most commonly found in the United States, mainly in the Midwest and the South. According to the 2000 U.S. census, approximately 3,375 people with the last name Oelrichs live in the United States.

Most Oelrichs residents live in South Dakota, the state with the highest concentration of people with this surname. Followed by Wisconsin and Nebraska. In 2000, 959 people with the last name Oelrichs lived in South Dakota. As of 2020, there are little more than 700 people living in South Dakota with this last name.

Minnesota has the second highest concentration of Oelrichs citizens, with an estimated 200 people living there as of 2020. Nationwide, there are also small pockets of Oelrichs citizens scattered around the country. California, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, and Texas all have a small population of this surname.

Outside of the United States, the last name Oelrichs is much rarer. Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands all have very small populations of Oelrichs citizens. Australia is also home to a handful of people with this last name.

In general, the last name Oelrichs is most commonly found in the United States. It is especially prevalent in the Midwest and the South. Although it is much rarer outside of the United states, Oelrichs citizens can be found in a few countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Oelrichs

The surname Oelrichs has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames related to the same origin.

The main spelling of Oelrichs is the German-based spelling, o-e-l-r-i-c-h-s. Variations on this spelling range from Oelrichs to Oelrix, Oelrigge, Olrichs, Oelerichs, Olerigs, Oelrich, Õlrich, Olrich, Ölrich, Ölriot, Orlriks, and Ēlriks. Other surnames of similar origin include Olrichsen, Olander, Ollander, Olland, Ollander, Öhlrich, Olclaimed, Ollerich, Ellangers, Allerheiligen, Holritch, and Ahlrichs.

In some cases, the spelling or pronunciation of Oelrichs has changed as it has been adopted in other countries and cultures. For example, in Spanish, the spelling has changed to "Olerejos" or "Oleríchs". Similarly, in Dutch and Flemish, it has changed to "Oelrikx" or "Olerijks".

Many members of the Oelrichs family have immigrated to the United States of America and Australia, where their name may have been changed to reflect the sounds and conventions of these countries. Common spellings in the United States include Oelrich, Oelrick, Oelrig, Olrich, and Olrick.

Regardless of how it is spelled, the Oelrichs surname is of German origin, with a long history traceable back to the Middle Ages.

Famous people with the name Oelrichs

• Gretel Bergmann Oelrichs: As a Jewish athlete, Gretel Bergmann Oelrichs was forced to leave Germany in 1934 under Hitler’s antisemitic regime. After destroying her sporting records in Berlin, Oelrichs escaped to the United States, where she became one of the first female track and field athletes to compete in the Olympics. She won the bronze medal in the high jump at the 1936 Games in Berlin, setting a still-standing Olympic record.
• Helmuth James Graf von Moltke: Helmuth James Graf von Moltke was a German lawyer and a member of the non-violent German resistance movement against the Nazis during WW2. He belonged to the German resistance group known as the Kreisau Circle and was arrested in January 1944 and charged with treason due to his opposition to Hitler’s regime. In 1945, Moltke was found guilty and beheaded by the Nazis.
• Harold Oelrichs: He was an American politician who served as mayor of San Francisco from 1914-1917. Oelrichs was born in Germany, but later moved to California and become a prominent businessman and civic leader. He was highly respected for his ability to work with diverse groups in order to benefit the city. He was also a driving force behind the development of the city’s iconic water supply system and worked to develop the region’s trade with Asia.
• Amélie Oelrichs: Born to a wealthy family in San Francisco, Amélie was an American socialite, actress, and writer. She was known for her philanthropic works, which included helping to fund homeless shelters and a soup kitchen. She was also the author of several books, including The Silver Darlings, which was made into a musical. Oelrichs also became well-known as a silent film actress, appearing in some of the earliest films produced in the United States.

Other surnames

Oelrich