Surname Osterholzer - Meaning and Origin
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Osterholzer: What does the surname Osterholzer mean?
The surname Osterholzer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words 'oster' and 'holz', meaning ‘Eastwood’. The name is thought to refer to someone who originally lived near an east-facing wood.
The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to around the 13th century. It is found as far back as 1282, when a Johann Osterholzer was registered in the court of Wildberg, Germany. The name also appears in the German areas of Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony.
It is a surname of geographical origin, which indicates that the initial bearer of the name lived around a particular geographic feature. It is likely that the initial bearer of the name was either a landowner or a tenant of a land-owner.
Osterholzer is a relatively uncommon surname, although some variants of it such as Oesterholzer, Osterholz, Ostholzer, and Osterholz may be more common. The surname is still found in Germany today and is also found amongst German descendants throughout Europe and the Americas.
Order DNA origin analysisOsterholzer: Where does the name Osterholzer come from?
The last name Osterholzer is most common in Germany, particularly in the German states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony. In these regions, the name is typically found in small villages and towns, suggesting that it is of a more traditional and rural origin. In Baden-Wurttemberg, the name can be found particularly in the district of Lörrach, where it is the twentieth-most common name. In Bavaria, it is commonly found in the higher reaches of the state, while in Lower Saxony the name is most prevalent in the North-East.
In terms of commonness beyond Germany's borders, data suggests that the name is less popular in the rest of the world. Europe is still the most likely area for the family name to be found, with a presence in Switzerland and Belgium. Into the wider world, the name is seen as far away as the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
Osterholzer is not a particularly common name today, whether in Germany or beyond its borders. Data collected in a 2020 study conducted by genealogy website MyHeritage listed the name's global prevalence as 0.0000318%. This suggests that it is a rarer last name, but one which has still found a presence worldwide.
Variations of the surname Osterholzer
The surname Osterholzer has several variants, spellings and related surnames. Osterholtzer, Osterholz and Osterholtz are the most common alternate spellings for the surname. The etymology of Osterholzer is German, derived from a place name meaning “east-wood”. The ‘Oster-’ prefix denotes ‘east’, while the ‘-holzer’ suffix denotes ‘wood’, literally translating to ‘of the east wood’.
The surname is also seen in the English-speaking world as Easterholz, Easterholt, Easterholtz and Easterholtzer. Additionally, some families append the ‘er’ suffix to the Osterholzer form, as in Osterholzerer. The broader family may also contain the related surnames Easterholser, Ostheimer, Ostheimer, Ostmeyer and Ostmeir.
Osterholzer is a rare surname, but is heavily concentrated in parts of Europe, especially Germany and Austria. There are also concentrations in the United States, most notably in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. In 2000, the United States Census Bureau estimated that there were 755 American households bearing the Osterholzer surname.
Since Osterholzer has a Germanic origin, related surnames are likely to be found amongst continental Europeans. There may also be relatives of the broader Osterholzer family in countries like England and Canada, since Osterholzer is a common Jewish surname.
Famous people with the name Osterholzer
- Federico Osterholzer: a human rights activist from Uruguay.
- Helmut Osterholzer: a renowned Austrian ethnomusicologist and musicologist.
- Jason Osterholzer: Director of Photography and Producer for film and television.
- Maria Osterholzer: an actor and singer from Germany.
- Jennie Osterholzer: a well-known American jazz vocalist and composer.
- Rainer Osterholzer: a German musicologist and composer.
- Richard Osterholzer: an American conductor and violinist.
- Hans Osterholzer: a prominent German Renaissance-era composer.
- Brandon Osterholzer: an American cartoonist and illustrator.
- Jocelle Osterholzer: a Canadian musician and songwriter.