Surname Orten - Meaning and Origin
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Orten: What does the surname Orten mean?
The last name Orten is of Germanic origin. It is thought to be derived from the name of an ancestor, with “orten” or “orden” meaning “edge” or “border”. This suggests that the original bearer of the name lived close to the border of a territory. People with the Orten surname may have come from tribal clans that were near the boundaries of two regions, or had some sort of official position that dealt with the boundary, possibly a bailiff or sheriff.
The earliest known reference to the Orten name comes from records dating back to the 1500s in Silesia, a Germanic region of Europe. By the 17th century, the name had spread to other regions within Germany. Over time, it made its way to different countries, including the United States, where it is still seen today.
The name Orten is carried by those who are proud of their German heritage and its long history in their family. It has come to represent the strength of the ancestors that passed it down, and those that carry it can take pride in the legacy that they have inherited.
Order DNA origin analysisOrten: Where does the name Orten come from?
The last name Orten is most commonly found in Scandinavia, with Norway leading in its distribution and also some parts of Denmark where it is occasionally found. It is thought that the name originated from a locations name "Orton". In Norway, the name can be found in the northwestern regions around the city of Trondheim and further south in the regions around Oslo and Sandnes.
In terms of distribution, the last name's presence outside of Scandinavia is sparse, but it can still be found in parts of Germany and scattered areas in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. In the United States, the last name is mainly found in the Midwest, particularly in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and there is a small population in Canada as well.
The last name Orten is especially popular amongst Norwegians, being the 44th most common surname in Norway and the 400th most common surname in Denmark. It is also a fairly popular name in Finland and Sweden, with a lesser but still substantial presence.
In general, the last name Orten is most commonly associated with the region of Scandinavia, particularly Norway, but it is also found in select parts of Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Orten
The surname Orten is of German origin, although it can also be found in other countries such as Sweden. It is primarily a topographic or habitational name, derived from any of the various places called Ort, meaning 'place', in Middle High German. The variants of this surname include Ortten, Ortin, Ortan, Orttan, Orteen, Ortens, Ortens, Ortensson, Oerten, Ortein and other minor variants.
Orten is also a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Orte', a medieval form of the name Ort. It is also possible for the name to be of Jewish origin, derived from the Yiddish word Orent, meaning 'eagle'.
Alternative spellings of Orten include Ortton, Ortoon, Ortoon and Ortoone. These can be found especially in older documents from the 17th-19th centuries. Reversals of the surname such as Netro, Nertoff and Nenor might be found in other countries such as in Germany and Scandinavia.
In some cases, the surname might also be compounded, such as Ortman or Orterman, Heimort or Heimenort, and so on. Such combined surnames are generally more common in Germany, found especially among rural families.
In most cases, the names Orten and Orent are considered different surnames, although there can be occasions when they are combined and used interchangeably. Generally, it can be assumed that any compound surnames that include the root ‘Ort’ are variants of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Orten
- Ravyn Orten: American television actress.
- Justin Orten: American singer, songwriter and musician.
- Robert Orten: American playwright, director, and Broadway producer.
- Emmett Orten: American model and actor.
- Cody Orten: American actor.
- Jason Orten: American actor and producer.
- Mark Orten: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Kristin Orten: American singer-songwriter and record producer.
- Anton Orten: Swedish jazz saxophonist.
- Helge Orten: Norwegian psychologist and professor.
- Theodor Orten: Swedish-American sculptor.
- Nick Orten: Australian football player.
- Edd Orten: American actor.
- John Teas Orten — American farmer, minister, county superintendent of schools, barber, and desertion survivor.
- Ellen Mary Orten: Filipino-American professor and businesswoman.
- Celin Orten: Icelandic actress.
- Robert Orten: Dutch actor.
- Jacob Orten: Finnish boxer.
- Erika Orten: American artist, poet, and educator.
- Eileen Orten: American judge.