Surname Ohlrogge - Meaning and Origin

Ohlrogge: What does the surname Ohlrogge mean?

The last name Ohlrogge is a German surname that is believed to date back to the 11th century. The name is derived from the German word 'holz', which translates to 'wood'. Its early usage as a surname likely indicated that the original bearer of the surname hailed from a region that was covered with trees, forest, or woodlands.

Ohlrogge is a very distinct surname found predominantly in Northwest Germany in the cities of Hanover and Lower Saxony. It is also a fairly common surname in Austria and South Tyrol, Austria. It is believed to have originated near the northern fringe of the Fruzzian Alps.

Today, there are many families around the world that bear the surname Ohlrogge. Many of them have established a well-known family crest or coat of arms. This crest typically features a open black raven with its wings spread wide and its talons clutched on a shield. The open wings are symbolic of strength and protection while the raven is symbolic of courage and honesty.

For those of the Ohlrogge family living today, the meaning of the surname is one that is deeply rooted in their family history. It denotes a family that is closely tied to the land, possesses a strong sense of honour, and are loyal and protective of those they love.

Ohlrogge: Where does the name Ohlrogge come from?

The last name Ohlrogge is most commonly found in Germany. It is a relatively rare name today, usually only found in small communities in the western and northern parts of the country. It has a history in the region stretching back to the 15th century.

The name comes from the German word "Ohelrogge," which means “forest warden” or “overseer of a royal forest.” During this time, Germany was broken up into various states and ruled by noble families. These families often employed individuals with the last name Ohlrogge as forest wardens and overseers to protect their forests and preserve their game.

The surname’s prevalence in the country today is mainly due to families migrating from the areas in Germany that the Ohlrogges originally settled in and migrating to other parts.

Today, the surname is still relevant in Germany. It remains mostly concentrated in the northwestern and western parts of the country, in places such as Rhineland, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Although the name has spread to some other countries, such as the United States, its prevalence in Germany remains high.

Variations of the surname Ohlrogge

The variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin to the surname Ohlrogge are:

Ohlegger, Ohlregge, Oelregge, Ohlroggen, Ohlregen, Oelregen, Ohlernoegge, Ohlerneggen, Ohlroggea, Ohlrogween, Oelroggea, Oelroggen, Oelroggen, Oelroggea, Oelregen, Oelroggea, Oelregge, Ohlrernwagen, Ohlrenwagon, Ohlrenwaggon, Oelrenwagen, Oelrenwaggon, Ohlrenwagen, Ohlrenwaggon, Ohlerigge and Ohlenwaggon.

The surname Ohlrogge is derived from the Low German and Old German surname Ohlrogen which means 'subaquatic person', primarily associated with a fishing trade. It was present in the Eastern Frisian regions of northern Germany in early medieval times.

Variations from the original German form are often seen in high emigration regions, such as the United States, where the 'Oelrigge' variant is common. This is partially the result of missed transcription when entering names into official records and thus developed into a more simplified Americanised version of the original.

In this sense, Ohlrogge can also be found in countries where Germanic ancestry is still strong, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, as well in Denmark, where there it is known as Oelrogge. It is also common in the Netherlands, to see the surname spelt as Ohlegger, whereas Ohlregge is the most common variant in Belgium.

Overall, the descendants of the surname Ohlrogge number in thousands and we can still see variants of the surname around today, even in countries not previously known to have Germanic ancestry, such as Canada, Australia, and even South Africa. This is a testament to the legacy of the Germanic migration in the early Middle Ages and the persistence of the family name.

Famous people with the name Ohlrogge

• Jani Ohlrogge: Jani Ohlrogge is an American professional track and field athlete best known for competing in the women’s 800-meter race.
• Leonard Ohlrogge: Leonard Ohlrogge served as the second president of the Grand Rapids Community College from 1973 to 1995 and was a professor of history and sociology at Grand Rapids Community College for more than 25 years.
• Aaron Ohlrogge: Aaron Ohlrogge is an American astrophysicist and planetary astronomer who is well known for his work on extrasolar planets, planetary formation and dust electronics.
• Richard Ohlrogge: Richard Ohlrogge is an American biochemist and professor of plant biology at Michigan State University, where he specializes in the study of plant metabolic pathways and the regulation of bioenergy production.
• Karen Ohlrogge: Karen Ohlrogge is an American geologist and professor at Lawrence University, where she specializes in the study of paleoceanography and studies the effects of climate change on the ocean.
• Matthew Ohlrogge: Matthew Ohlrogge is an American cyber security entrepreneur and CEO of Secure Shield, an information security company.
• Heather Ohlrogge: Heather Ohlrogge is a former American professional tennis player who is now a coach and commentator for ESPN.
• Tim Ohlrogge: Dr. Tim Ohlrogge is an American evolutionary biologist specializing in the study of plant speciation and molecular evolution and professor at the University of Michigan.

Other surnames

OhlrogOhlrogeOhlroggOhlroggen