Surname Ostner - Meaning and Origin
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Ostner: What does the surname Ostner mean?
The last name Ostner is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German name ‘Ostinhari’, meaning ‘east warrior’ or ‘eastern army’. The name is believed to have referred to a soldier of an eastern army or to a person from the region known as Ostmark, which today forms part of the Czech Republic and Austria.
The Ostner surname can be found in many parts of the world, suggesting that the family migrated throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. The earliest documented record of the name dates back to 1234 in Brandenburg, Germany.
The family name is primarily associated with individuals who live in Central Europe, although it appears in English records as early as the 16th century. It is believed that Ostner families in England descended from those who emigrated from Germany during the Reformation.
The Ostner family name is associated with hard work and commitment to others. Within the Ostner family, individuals typically address each other by honorifics such as aunts and uncles. Ostner families are tight-knit and often remain close even after moving to different countries. Additionally, Ostner families are receptive to new ideas and open to trying new things. This provides a great opportunity for individuals with the last name Ostner to be successful and to make their mark in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisOstner: Where does the name Ostner come from?
The last name Ostner is most commonly found in Germany today. It is typically concentrated in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, but can also be found in other German states such as Bavaria. The name is quite uncommon, only appearing in Germany’s top 1,000 last names a few times in the last few centuries.
The origin of the last name Ostner is believed to be Germanic, deriving from the Old German words ‘ost’ and ‘ner’. The literal translation of these two words is ‘eastern’ and ‘one’, suggesting that the original bearer of the name might have come from an eastern region.
The Ostner family can also be found in some parts of the United States, including the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The exact origin of these families is unknown, although they may have emigrated in the late 19th or 20th centuries, following the influx of German immigrants into the United States.
The name Ostner is quite rare, and is often used as a placeholder surname in some German literature. Even with its rarity, the name has been used in a variety of ways throughout history, from military personnel to bankers.
Variations of the surname Ostner
The surname Ostner is believed to have originated in Germany and is derived from the old German word 'ohs', meaning 'edge' or 'cutting edge'. Variants of the surname include Oestner, Oesterner, Oestner, Oestner, Oesterner, Oestener, and Oestener. Many other German surnames use the same root word, such as Oestling and Osthauser.
Spelling of the surname can also vary within Germany, with Ostener being the most common form of the surname used in southern Germany and Oestner being the more common spelling in the north-west of the country. Additionally, Ostner and Oesterner are used in areas with high density of German-speaking populations such as Austria and Switzerland.
In America, many of the German immigrants simplified their surname 'Ostner' to Sterner, and it is still common to find families with both surnames today. A number of families shortened their surname even further, adapting it to the more readily accepted English spelling, 'Stern'.
The surname has also been Anglicised into Austin, Easton, Osteen, and Oston. Depending on the region, the spelling of the surname can also differ, with Osten being used in some parts of the United States.
As the surname has its roots in German-speaking populations, one can also find it in the Netherlands, France, and Italy, however, these spellings are usually modified to sound more native to the country. In the Netherlands, Ostner is spelled Oostendorp, in France as Oston, and in Italy as Ostan.
Famous people with the name Ostner
- Amy Ostner: Amy Ostner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Ben Ostner: Ben Ostner is an American music producer, recording engineer, composer, and guitar player.
- Annabelle Ostner: Annabelle Ostner is a German journalist and television presenter.
- Johannes Ostner: Johannes Ostner is a German football player.
- Paul Ostner: Paul Ostner is an American actor and director.
- Anton Ostner: Anton Ostner is an Austrian composer, conductor and pianist.
- Jörg Ostner: Jörg Ostner is a German historian and professor of modern European history at the University of Potsdam.
- Manfred Ostner: Manfred Ostner is an Austrian mountaineer.
- Ruth Ostner: Ruth Ostner is an Austrian sculptor.
- Peter Ostner: Peter Ostner is an Austrian astronomer and astrophysicist.