Surname Oertel - Meaning and Origin

Journey into the Roots of Oertel Lineage with iGENEA DNA Test: A Personal Experience

Venturing into the deep roots of the Oertel lineage through the iGENEA DNA test proved to be an enriching journey. The test revealed the geographical roots of the surname and connected the dots to other Oertels across the world.

G. Oertel

Oertel: What does the surname Oertel mean?

The last name Oertel is orginally German and its roots can be traced back to the early thirteenth century. The earliest recorded example of this surname is Helmus Oertel of Bavaria who lived in 1285. The literal translation of the name is "earthen house". It is believed that the surname may have referred to geography, specifically the environment - for example, if a family lived in a building on land surrounded by dirt. It could also have been derived from the Middle High German verb "oerteilen," which means "to divide," and would have referred to an area of land that was divided among multiple families.

In the modern day, the last name Oertel is one of the most common surnames in Germany. It is found most prevalently in the southwestern part of the country, with higher concentrations in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The surname is also present in Austria and Switzerland, as well as in smaller numbers throughout other European countries.

The Oertel surname continues to carry a sense of deep-rooted family connections and pride. Its bearer often celebrates the meaning and history of the name, which spans centuries and countries.

Oertel: Where does the name Oertel come from?

The last name Oertel can be found in various countries and regions around the world today. In Europe, the name is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the 100 most popular surnames. There are also concentrations of Oertel families in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Denmark. In the Americas, it is found mainly in the United States, with significant populations in New York, Pennsylvania, and California. The name is also found in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, South America, and all around Australia. Many instances of the name can also be seen across the Middle East, especially in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as well as in India. The name Oertel is believed to be Germanic in origin and is derived from the term "ort" which means "a plot of land or a small village".

Variations of the surname Oertel

The origin of the surname Oertel can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Germany and is derived from the German word 'Ort' meaning 'place' or 'location'. It is a habitational name, arising from the fact that someone with the surname Oertel lived near or at a place called Oertel or similar.

The variants of Oertel include Ortel, Oortel, Ortel, Ortell, Oertell, Orettel, Ortello, and Ortello. These are all common variations which have been used over the years. In some instances, the surname might even have evolved into the diminutive versions, Oertelink, Ortellinger and Ortling.

The spelling of the surname has also changed over the centuries, the most common variants being Oertell, Ortello and Ortel. Some other spellings used are Ortelli, Oretel, Ortell, Orteler, Ortely, Oertele, Ortelli and Ortelle.

A number of surnames of a similar origin also exist, which are derived from the German word 'Ort', such as Orten, Ortner, Ortlein, Ortman, Ortt, Ortwein, Ortelius, Ortberg, Orth and Porth.

Overall, there are many different variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Oertel. It is likely that, over the years, it has changed and morphed into different versions to reflect the different cultures and countries in which it has been passed down. Regardless, the original meaning remains the same: a person or family associated with a location or place.

Famous people with the name Oertel

• Joerg Oertel: German-born entrepreneur and investor. He founded vegconomist, an online magazine dedicated to promoting food production that is both vegan and animal-friendly.
• Maik Oertel: German football coach. He is currently the head coach of 1. FC Magdeburg.
• Axel Oertel: German electronic engineer and inventor. He is best known for his work in developing the world’s first patented wireless LAN technology.
• Marius Oertel: German sculptor, writer and cultural anthropologist. He is known for his work in the field of folk art, specifically, art created by local communities within the scope of their own cultural landscape.
• Konstanze Oertel: German actress. She has appeared in several films and television shows, most notably as Ophelia in the 1993 West German film adaptation of ‘Hamlet’.
• Jens Oertel: German editor and translator. He is best known for his translations and work on books about vegetarian and vegan lifestyle.
• Rolf Oertel: German physicist. He is best known for his research on the use of solid-state lasers in medical applications.
• Werner Oertel: German astrophysicist and physicist. He is best known for his work on theories of stellar structure and evolution.
• Dieter Oertel: German engineer and inventor. He is the inventor of the SOFT-COVER case, a patented system for protecting electronic devices from dust, moisture and other environmental hazards.
• Wolfgang Oertel: German poet, author and editor. He is the author of several books of poetry, including ‘The Pumpkin Man’ and ‘Sky & Snow’.

Other surnames

OertellOertelt