Surname Ollmer - Meaning and Origin

Ollmer: What does the surname Ollmer mean?

The last name Ollmer is of Germanic origin, derived mostly commonly from the personal name Ollmar. Ollmar itself is a combination of two Old Germanic elements, the first being “ul” meaning “ancestor” and the second being “mar” meaning “famous.” This suggests that the original individual bearing the name would have had a celebrated or noble ancestry and was even likely to have held a title or noble rank.

Throughout its history, many variations of the name have been recorded, such as Olmer, Holmer, and Allmar. There have also been some migration patterns of the Ollmer name from Germany to other countries, particularly the U.S.A., which began during the European immigration of the 19th century.

Despite its ancient roots, the surname Ollmer still survives to this day. It is especially prevalent in German, Swiss, and Dutch-speaking regions, often corresponding with cities and regions where the original bearer of the name first resided.

At the same time, the name Ollmer carries an air of mystery, an aura which is deeply rooted in its origins. There is an almost mythical quality to the surnames origins, and it’s no surprise that some individuals bearing the name have gone out to further explore the past and its mysteries. You may just find one or two of them on your next family history research excursion.

Ollmer: Where does the name Ollmer come from?

The last name Ollmer is most commonly found in Germany, specifically the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is a name of Germanic origins that is derived from the name Adelmari. The name is most popular in and around the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, especially within the big cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Bielefeld.

The best estimate is that there are currently around 5,000 people in the world with this surname. It has been recorded in the records of the small town of Strümp in North Rhine-Westphalia since the 12th century making it one of the earliest surnames of the region.

The most common profession for those with the last name Ollmer, from what is currently documented, is most commonly found to be a farmer or a miller. This is true not just for the North Rhine-Westphalia region, but generally across Germany. This is likely due to the idea of having a hereditary trade. If your family had been tilling their soil and flour milling for hundreds of years, it's possible that you could inherit the same job.

Today, the name Ollmer isn't widely spread. It is still most commonly found in Germany, where it has been traditionally most popular. Unfortunately, there is no readily available accuracy as to how widespread the name currently is, but one estimate suggests that it is one of the more uncommon session names found in Germany.

Variations of the surname Ollmer

The surname Ollmer is an occupational surname of German origin. The original spelling of the name is most likely Oelmerer or Oehmerer.

Variants of the name include Olmerer, Ohlmerer, and Oilmerer. Other variants and spellings of the surname include Ollmaire, Ullmayer, Ullmer, Ulimair, Ohlmacher, and Oelmeyer.

Its variants can also be found in different languages. In Dutch, the name has spellings such as Olmarius and Olmaire, and in French, the spelling is Olmair. In English, spellings can include Ollmer, Ollmayer, Ullmer, Allmer, and Uelmer.

The surname is found around the world, so it also has different nationalities and surnames relating to its origin. In Scotland, it is reported as Ollmar, while in Sweden the spelling is Ullmar. In the United States, the surnames become Ollmacher, Oelmacher, or Ullman. Alternative forms of the name can also be found in other countries such as Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand.

The name is also found in other countries with various forms. For example, in the Czech Republic, the name is spelled Uhlmeyer, Uhlemajer, Uhlmajer, Uhlmayer, or Uhlmajr. In Croatia, it is spelled Ujlamar or Ujlimar. In Austria, the spelling is Ohlmüller. Other variants of the name are Aulmer and Olemer.

The common thread throughout all the various spellings and surnames is the root of the name being Ollmer, which comes from the German occupation as a beekeeper or honey seller.

Famous people with the name Ollmer

• Roger Ollmer: an American swimmer who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Ernst Ollmer: German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag from 1953 to 1969.
• Ernst Ollmer: German theologian and priests, who wrote several books about New Testament theology.
• Toni Ollmer: German actress who appeared in a number of films throughout the 1970s.
• Adolf Ollmer: German theologian who taught at the University of Marburg in the 1950s.
• Ingo Ollmer: German Olympic long jumper who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
• Adolf Ollmer: German champion ice skater from the late 19th and early 20th century.
• Torsten Ollmer: German professional football player from the late 1980s to early 2000s.
• Marianne Ollmer: German long distance runner who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Monika Ollmer: German Olympic sport shooter who competed in the 1988, 1992 and 2000 Summer Olympics.

Other surnames

Ollmert