Surname Osthofer - Meaning and Origin
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Osthofer: What does the surname Osthofer mean?
The last name Osthofer is a German surname originating from the region of modern-day Germany, Austria, and the former Czechoslovakia. It is a topographical name that refers to someone who lived near an “Osthöfer”, which is an old German term for a gatekeeper or toll collector who collected fees for access to a road, bridge, dragon, or hill.
The area that today is the region of Germany, Austria, and the former Czechoslovakia has passed through many changing borders over the course of recent centuries, making it likely that the people with the Osthofer surname are from that region. It could also be related to the German first name Ost, which was in use in the Middle Ages and refers to a person who was from the eastern German region.
The name Osthofer is found mostly in Germany and surrounding countries, but there are also people with the Osthofer surname in other countries in Europe, the Americas, and parts of Asia, suggesting that some of the families with the surname emigrated from their place of origin.
The most common spelling of the surname is Osthofer, but it also can be spelled Osthöfer, Östhöfer, Oesthofer, and Oesthöfer. It is likely that it was shortened from a longer version during the course of migration. And today, the surname is still in use as a reminder of the people of the past who had the fortune to work as gatekeepers and toll collectors in Germany and the surrounding countries.
Order DNA origin analysisOsthofer: Where does the name Osthofer come from?
The last name Osthofer is most common today in Germany and Austria. In Germany alone, according to the Genealogical Gazetteer of Germany, more than 5,800 people bear the surname Osthofer. The highest concentration of Osthofers is in the state of Bavaria, where more than 3,600 people bear the name. Other significant concentrations of Osthofers in Germany are in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, and Berlin.
In Austria, hundreds of Osthofers live in Vienna and the surrounding area. Osthofers are also found in other parts of Austria, such as Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. Additionally, Osthofers living outside of Austria and Germany can be found in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
A likely source of the name's origin is the German phrasal verb 'Osthofen' meaning 'set out in the east.' Historically, areas near or in the east that were called Osthofen included parts of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Thus, some of the Osthofers living today could be descendant of people who literally set out in the east, and adopted the name of those places along the way.
Variations of the surname Osthofer
The Osthofer surname has a variety of alternate spellings and variants, some of which are quite distinct from the original version. Osthofer is also spelled Osthoffer, with the addition of an F. Ostinder is a variant of Osthofer, as is Osthaffel and Ostholl.
Osthigger is an alternate version that emerged in the Palatinate region of Germany, as is OstHomeier and Osthometowner. In Germany, a common variation is Ostfoffa or Ostfuhra.
In Switzerland, Osthofer is spelled Osthofer Maybech, with the addition of a place name modifier. Another version, Ostholder, is found in the Alsace region of France and Osthoffer is a variant found in Austria. Another variant of Osthofer is Osthofer Wanner, found mostly in Bavaria, Germany.
Variants of Osthofer also exist in other parts of Europe and around the world. Some variants include: Oesterhofer (Germany), Osthauf (Austria), Estoffa (Liechtenstein), Esthofer (Luxembourg), Uschauf (Belgium), Osfauf (Denmark) and Osteyfer (Poland). Variations of the surname may also appear in the United States, including Osterhafer, Osterhuff and Osterholt.
In areas where surnames have not been extensively used, Osthofer may have transformed in various ways, often reflecting the language and culture of the region. Hence, it can be seen as Ostoksfer, Osthovfer, Osthoter, Osthofner, Osthofr and Osthafr.
Famous people with the name Osthofer
- Udo Osthofer, German actor
- Natascha Osthofer, German journalist
- Laura Osthofer, German model
- Anton Osthofer, Austrian diplomat
- Paul Osthofer, Italian poet
- Günther Osthofer, Austrian lyricist
- Christa Osthofer, Austrian politician
- Robert Osthofer, German sculptor
- Max Osthofer, Austrian artist
- Dragutin Osthofer, Croatian general