Surname Ortgießen - Meaning and Origin

Ortgießen: What does the surname Ortgießen mean?

The last name Ortgießen is of German origin and is mainly found in the western regions of Germany. It is a relatively uncommon surname, which originated from the old High German language and is derived from the word "orog" which means "border" or "edge". This suggests that the name may have been used to identify individuals who lived near the boundaries or edges of a settlement.

The use of the surname Ortgießen likely dates back many centuries, when communities in Germany were isolated and identified by their geographical locations, such as the edge of a forest or riverbank. The Ortgießen family could have been descended from individuals who were identified as living near the edge of an area or settlement, thus distinguishing them from the other people in the community.

The surname Ortgießen has also been associated with the occupation of a baker or miller in Germany and Austria, suggesting the family may have been involved in milling grain or grinding flour. The German meaning of "Ortgiesse" is a potter's press used to shape clay, suggesting the family may also have been involved in pottery.

No matter what their original purpose was, the contemporary meaning of the surname Ortgießen is for individuals who are highly principled, hardworking and reliable, gaining respect for their devotion to their work.

Ortgießen: Where does the name Ortgießen come from?

The surname Ortgießen is mainly found in Germany and Austria, and is most common in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, and North Rhine-Westphalia. This heavy concentration in Germany is unsurprising as this particular surname originates from the German word ‘Ort’ meaning ‘location’ or ‘place’, and ‘giessen’, which is an old German word meaning ‘to throw’ or ‘to pour’. Together these two words form the surname Ortgießen, literally meaning ‘one who throws or pours at a location’.

Ortigeßen is also found in more distant countries, such as the United States, Canada, and in South America. This is most likely due to people emigrating from Germany to these countries, taking their surname with them. It is difficult to get exact figures of how many people with this surname live in each country, however, according to Ancestry.com data the surname Ortgießen is most common in the United States in the counties of Kent (Ohio), Monroe (Michigan), Lyon (Minnesota), and Allegan (Michigan).

Overall, Ortgießen is a very uncommon surname today, and many people may not have heard of it. The surname however, has still managed to hold on throughout the years with it still being found in Germany and abroad.

Variations of the surname Ortgießen

The surname Ortgießen has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the name is Ortgeisen. It is a German surname and the spelling of it in other languages might differ slightly, but still make reference to the same root surname. For instance in English it appears as Armytage or Armatage. There is also variation in spelling in some German regional dialects, which can be found as Ortgesen, Orthgeissen, and Ortkiessen.

Other surnames with the same origin as Ortgiesen are Arnim, Loperz, and Vadims. These surnames are derived from the Old German "Ort" which translates as "Point" or "location". This root surname of Ort is often combined with other roots such as "Eisen" (Iron) or "Geissen" (Goat). In those cases, the surnames often reference locations where those terms were found such as "Point of Iron" or “Point of Goats”.

Lastly, the surname Ortgießen may also be spelled as Ortgiesen in the USA, as it was changed when immigrants came to America in the early 1800s and wanted to “Americanize” their name.

In conclusion, some of the variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin for the surname Ortgießen are Ortgeisen, Armatage, Ortgesen, Orthgeissen, Ortkiessen, Arnim, Loperz, and Vadims. Additionally, it may be Americanized as Ortgiesen.

Famous people with the name Ortgießen

• Wilfried Ortgiesen: Wilfried Ortgiesen is a former German football player who is best known for his two-year stint in the English Premier League. He played his entire professional career for FC Köln, until making a switch to Manchester City in 2001.
• Christine Ortgiesen: Christine Ortgiesen is a German non-executive director and board member for several organizations, including Novartis and Nespresso.
• Traugott Ortgiesen: Traugott Ortgiesen was a German political activist and anti-Nazi resistance fighter during World War II. He served as a soldier in the German army and was later arrested for his involvement in the resistance movement.
• Marius Ortgiesen: Marius Ortgiesen is a freelance photographer and film maker based out of Berlin. He has had his work published in newspapers and magazines all around the world, including The New York Times and National Geographic.
• Reinhard Ortgiesen: Reinhard Ortgiesen was a German composer, violist, and musicologist who is recognized as an expert on early music from the 1700s and 1800s. He worked as a professor at several universities in Germany.
• Arthur Ortgiesen: Arthur Ortgiesen was a German author and playwright who wrote several stories and plays at the end of the 19th century. His most famous work is the comic opera "Die Räuberbraut," which was premiered in 1889.
• Georg Ortgiesen: Georg Ortgiesen was a German theologian and Lutheran pastor who served for years as a professor of dogmatics at the University of grease. He wrote a number of books on theological topics, which are still acclaimed by scholars today.

Other surnames

Ortgieß