Surname Olrich - Meaning and Origin

Olrich: What does the surname Olrich mean?

The last name Olrich is of German origin and derives from the old Germanic personal names Odware, Aldamar, Aldenawer, and Oldaric. It may also come from the Old High German 'Aldrich' which means “wealth and power” or “ruler of all.”

The first documented instance of the last name Olrich is a record of the Latinized form "Ollrich" from Beuthen, Silesia in 1453. It then slowly spread across many parts of Europe, likely with the immigration of the Germanic people.

The surname is most common in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Belgium, and easily identifiable due to the variation in spellings, such as Olrich, Ollrich, Ullrich, Ullrych, and Ullrich.

The Olrich surname likely holds significant meaning for individuals who hold the name, whether the historical roots of its origin or aspects of familial connections. The last name Olrich may be symbolic of strength, power, and inheritance from past generations of this family.

Olrich: Where does the name Olrich come from?

Olrich is a surname which is mostly commonly associated with the Central and Northern European countries of Germany, Austria and Hungary today. In Germany, it is most commonly associated with the lower and middle socioeconomic classes within the country, although it is possible to find family members who are more well to do. In Austria, Olrich is more evenly represented throughout society, as well as in the Germanic population living in Hungary.

In terms of present-day usage of Olrich (or variants) as a surname, it is usually found in the German language within these countries, and is often spelled as a variant such as Olrich, Oelrig, Olrih, Oehlrich, Olrichs, Olreich, Olrieg, Oelrick, Oelrichs or Oelrickson. It is also common to find use of variants of the name in English, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States, and these tend to consist of Olsen, Ollrich or Olerich.

In terms of genetic heritage though, particularly with the variant of the name Olsen, most occurrences of the name tend to be found across Scandinavia, and the usage of the name is quite common in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with Ollrichs and Olerichs also being identified in some Scandinavian records as an anglicised version of the surname.

Although there is no evidence of the surname having any connection to royalty or nobility, the name has been chosen by several families over the centuries as either given or surnames by people of different backgrounds, class and country. Today, the name is still considered quite popular across Northern and Central Europe in countries such as Germany, Austria and Hungary, as well as finding quite widespread usage further afield across Scandinavia.

Variations of the surname Olrich

The Olrich surname is most likely of German origin. Common variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include: Oelrick, Oelrich, Oelerich, Olerich, Olrichs, Oelericks, Oelerricks, Olrichson, Oelrickson, Oelerickson, Oelrichson, Olrickson, Ollrich, Orlich, Aulrich, Ulrich, and Urich.

The surname Olrich is derived either from an old German personal name composed of 'uodal' (prosperity) and 'ric' (power/rule) or from Odin, the Norse god of valiant men.

The first recorded spelling of the surname Olrich was found in the recorded Elements Lexicon of German surnames in 1349, where one Udalrichus was listed as a witness.

It is found in various different forms throughout the German-speaking world, as the name spread across central Europe. During the Middle Ages, many people moved within the Holy Roman Empire, adopting or being given surnames associated with their place of origin.

Throughout the centuries, the spelling of surnames has often been altered, leading to variants of the original spelling. Some spelling variations of the name Olrich include Olrar, Olerar, Olerch, Olar, Olrich, Oelrich, Olerich, Oelerich, Olrichs, Oelericks, Oelerricks, Olrichson, Oelrickson, and Oelerickson.

The popularity of the surname Olrich in Germany has declined over the years, though it remains quite popular in the us state of New York.

Famous people with the name Olrich

• John Olrich: Actor who appeared in the films What Dreams May Come and The Negotiator.
• Charles Olrich: Actor who starred in the films Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead and Retribution.
• Linda Olrich: Singer and actress who has released several albums and acted in the films Knockin' on Heaven's Door and The Fisher King.
• Erwin Olrich: Academy Award-winning Special Effects Supervisor who worked on films such as Titanic, Thin Red Line and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
• Louise Olrich: Singer who released her debut album, “Tide and Time”, in 2011 and was a contestant on The Voice.
• Mark Olrich: Actor who starred in the television series Seasons of Love and The Rutherford Parade.
• Tomas Olrich: Voiceover artist who voiced characters in the animated films Toy Story, Antz, and Monster House.
• Erik Olrich: Actor who appeared in the television series Criminal Minds and film The Maze.
• Jamie Olrich: Photographer who was featured in Vanity Fair and has photographed celebrity events such as the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.
• Gary Olrich: Actor who performed in off-Broadway productions such as A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Other surnames

Ölrichs