Surname Ostwinkel - Meaning and Origin
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Ostwinkel: What does the surname Ostwinkel mean?
The last name Ostwinkel is a German surname which means “east corner”. It likely derived from the German word “Osten,” which means “east,” and “winkel,” which means “corner.” A person with this surname may have once lived in the eastern part of a German village or town, near an intersection or corner of the town.
The surname was likely adopted by a family in the Middle Ages when people began to take on family names. Ostwinkel was used to designate where a person lived, so it could be distinguished from people living elsewhere with the same name, making it easier to keep track of people and their families. This type of inherited surname is known as a habitational surname, suggesting that the original bearer of the name had originally lived in or near an area known as an Ostwinkel in their ancestral homeland.
The surname Ostwinkel has been around for centuries and is found in various countries around the world, such as Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United States of America. There is also a small town in Germany currently known as Ostwinkel, indicating its past as a possible origin of the name.
Historically, Ostwinkel families have been associated with farming and other agricultural occupations, suggesting that the original bearer of the name was most likely a farmer living in or near the eastern corner of a village or town. Today, this surname is common throughout the world and has many variations, such as Oestwinkel, Ostwinke, Ostwinkle, and Ostwinkelen.
Order DNA origin analysisOstwinkel: Where does the name Ostwinkel come from?
The last name Ostwinkel is most commonly found in Germany today. In the German censuses of 1900, there were more than 900 couples bearing this distinguishable surname. Furthermore, in the American censuses, the name Ostwinkel is mainly spread across the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Some of the variations of the Ostwinkel surname are Ostinkel, Ostival, Ostivel, Oastin, and Austewinkel.
The majority of the Ostwinkel family tree is a descendent of the aristocrats in Alsace. During the French Revolution in 1789, the family moved to different districts of the Palatinate and Germany.
The origin of the last name Ostwinkel is derived from the German words 'Osten', which means 'east' and 'Winkel', which is derived from the Latin word 'Viculus' that means 'corner'. This could refer to an east corner that is located near an estate or a church, or to the family's ancestral origins in the East.
The Ostwinkels are an example of a German emigrant family in the 21st century. They may have different life paths depending on which side of the world they are living in, but one thing remains the same – their last name is a reminder of their long-standing traditions and values that were instilled in the family many years ago.
Variations of the surname Ostwinkel
The surname Ostwinkel is derived from the Old German words "ost" and "winkel," which mean east corner. It is a locational name, indicating the family may have come from a settlement located in the east corner of some region. Variations and spellings of the Ostwinkel surname include Austwinkel, Oestwinkel, Osterwinkel, Ostwinckl and Oestwinckle.
Variations of the surname in cognate languages have also developed. For example, Ostwinkel can be found as Estuingel in German and Ostuynkel in Dutch. In some cases, the surname may have evolved into Ostwingel, Aswinkle or Asteingel.
Surnames that are variants of Ostwinkel may also be found, depending on the region. In North Germany, the variations include Oswinkeler, Ostenwinkel, Osterzwinkel and Ostrogwinkel. In South Germany, variants include Oestringer and Ostechiling. Similarly, Austwinkel may be found as Osterwigunkel in North Germany and Ostwingel in South Germany.
Even though the surname Ostwinkel is quite uncommon, it has spread across Europe in different variations and spellings. Today, several hundred people across various countries bear this name in some form.
Famous people with the name Ostwinkel
- Otto von Ostwinkel: renowned German painter and sculptor who painted a variety of commissioned portrait pieces for European royalty in the 17th century.
- Philipp Von Ostwinkel: Catholic priest from the late 19th century who was involved in politics in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
- Armin von Ostwinkel: German philosopher, writer, and university professor who was active during the 20th century.
- Christian Landfried von Ostwinkel: German politician active during the early 19th century who served as a minister of state in the Grand Duchy of Baden.
- George Ostwinkel: Prussian nobleman who served as a resident in the United States in the early 1800s.
- Heinrich von Ostwinkel: Austrian poet whose works were popular at the court of King Maximilian I during the mid-16th century.
- Johann Heinrich von Ostwinkel: Priest and German literary figure who lived in the 18th century.
- Maria von Ostwinkel: wealthy baroness who gained notoriety for her charitable work in the late 19th century.
- Wilhelm von Ostwinkel: German diplomat and politician who served as an Ambassador to the United States in the early 20th century.
- Wilhelm Ostwinkel: Prussian nobleman who served as a court chamberlain in the early 19th century.