Surname Ohlmer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Ohlmer: What does the surname Ohlmer mean?
The last name Ohlmer is of German origin and is derived from the personal name "Olm". The name itself, Olm, served as a prefix in early Germanic naming conventions and could indicate a land or area. In the Middle Ages, when a patronymic surname system was more popular, the Ohlmer surname would be derived from the father's personal name, Olm.
The original form of the surname was "Ohlmerze" and is found in records from the 14th century. It is thought to have been used throughout Central and Northern Europe, where German was the most commonly spoken language. Part of the name may also be derived from "Oel", which is an old word for "oil".
The meaning of the Ohlmer surname, therefore, can roughly be translated as "the man from the place of oil" or "the man from Olm's home". Those with the last name most likely descended from a place where oil was found, likely a major resource and essential to the local economy. Alternatively, the surname could have been used to indicate someone who came from a place where someone or something was named Olm.
Today, the Ohlmer surname is fairly uncommon, but remains a proud part of the German language and surnames. It stands as a reminder of an era where oil was a major resource and surnames were derived from prefixes and personal names.
Order DNA origin analysisOhlmer: Where does the name Ohlmer come from?
The last name Ohlmer is most common in countries of German-speaking origin, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2019, it was the 11,962nd most common surname in Germany, according to the German census. It has also been found in regions that were historically part of the German-speaking world, like the former Bohemian and Moravian regions of the Czech Republic.
It is believed that the Ohlmer name derived from the old German words 'Uhl', meaning 'owl', and 'meer', meaning 'lake'. This means the name was likely given to someone from an area with a lake and an abundance of owls.
The name may be spelled in various ways depending on the region, like Uhlemann, Oehlmer, Oehlemann, Öhlmer, Öhlmann and Ohlmann.
The surname is rare in other countries outside of German-speaking areas, though there are a few families with the Ohlmer name in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. For instance, the United States Census Bureau reported 74 households with the Ohlmer name in 2020.
Variations of the surname Ohlmer
The surname Ohlmer is spelled in various ways, including Ohlmeyer, Ohlmaier, Ohlmeier, Ohlmayr, Olmueller, and Ulmerer. The source of this surname is Germanic and means "nobleman's estate."
Originally, this surname was used to differentiate between the various "Upper German Nobleman's Estates." During the Middle Ages, the use of surnames was increasingly used to distinguish between families of the same name or origin. In the German language “Ohel” or “Ohl” was used in the sense of an estate near a river, which is why some spellings include Olm, Elm, or Elmer.
The spelling variants of Ohlmer have spread all over the world and even more widely over the past few centuries with the increase in worldwide travel and immigration. Most of the versions of this surname are found in the United States, although the other forms are found in various parts of Europe, such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, and Switzerland.
The variants of the surname Ohlmer also include the German surnames Uhlmeier, Uhlmaier, Uhlmann, and Uhlmacher, and the English and Dutch surnames Ulmer and Elmer. In French, the surname is written Uhlmeier and in Arabic, it is written UHLAMERI.
The variants of the surname Ohlmer have multiple spellings and are associated with a variety of spellings across the world, making it easier to trace the history of this surname and its various bearers.
Famous people with the name Ohlmer
- Amanda Ohlmer: Award-winning independent filmmaker
- Dan Ohlmer: Professional comedian and actor
- Dieter Ohlmer: German sculptor
- Jacob Ohlmer: American high school basketball player
- Janina Ohlmer: Polish-German opera singer
- Matt Ohlmer: American technology executive
- Meredith Ohlmer: Canadian Paralympic swimmer
- Nathan Ohlmer: Professional soccer player
- Örjan Ohlmer: Swedish classical guitarist
- Peter Ohlmer: Danish professional golfer