Surname Oberbauer - Meaning and Origin
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Oberbauer: What does the surname Oberbauer mean?
The last name Oberbauer is of German origin, derived from the word Ober meaning “upper” or “higher.” The suffix -bauer means “farmer” or “peasant” and is common in many German surnames. Traditionally, the surname was given to someone who lived or had some connection near an elevated area or at a higher place.
In its earliest form, the term was spelled Oberböhmer or Oberbäumer. This surname may have originally referred to a person living in a mill, located in an elevated area, or it may have been given to someone living higher up on the mountain side. It is possible that the name evolved to Oberbauer as people moved away from rural areas, while still maintaining the indicator of where their ancestors originally lived.
Other variations of the surname include Oberburger, Oberbuhl, Oberbeuler, Oberbuer, Oberbuhl, and Oberburo. These surnames were common throughout the German states, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Today, the surname is still found in various parts of Europe. Its exact meaning may have changed over time, but its roots are still clear and indicate the probable origin of those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisOberbauer: Where does the name Oberbauer come from?
The last name Oberbauer is commonly found in many parts of the world today. Specifically, it is most commonly found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also found in the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, especially in the midwestern and eastern parts, Oberbauers are dispersed in relatively large numbers.
In Austria, Oberbauer is a fairly common family name. It is estimated that there are around 12,000 people in Austria who bear the last name Oberbauer. In Germany, the last name Oberbauer is also quite common and there are roughly 25,000 people who use it as their last name. Switzerland also has a significant number of Oberbauers, estimated to around 9,000 people.
In the United States, the last name Oberbauer is not as common as it was a century ago. After World War 2, the immigration of European Jews increased and many Oberbauer families settled in the United States, which resulted in a decrease of the family name’s presence there. Despite this, the last name is still present in the country.
Overall, the last name Oberbauer is fairly common in many parts of the world today, although its presence is not as widespread as centuries ago. The majority of the people who bear this last name are concentrated in countries in continental Europe, such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. However, the name is still present in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Oberbauer
The surname Oberbauer is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German for "upper farmer" used to refer to wealthy or influential landowners. It is most prevalent in southern Germany, with the spelling variations Oberböer, Oberbauer, Oberbawer, Oberbawer, Oberböwer, Oberböwer, Oberbeuer, Oberbohmer, Oberbohmer,g Oberböhmer, Oberbomer and Oberboomer.
The Austrian and German forms have spread to other countries and become localized in spelling such as OEBBER in Denmark, OBERBY in Sweden, EBERBAUER in Germany, EBERBAUM in Germany, EBERBORN in Austria, EBERBORNE in England, and OBERBAUMER in France. The spelling variants been further modified over time with phonetic spellings, such as OEBERER, ENBERBAUER, UBERBACKER, UBERBAUER, UBERBAUER, and UBERBAUMER in Germany and EUBERBAUER in Austria.
The surname has also been adopted into other surnames such as BAUER, BEURER, BOEHM, BOMER, BOMERMAN, BUMER and UBER. These spellings can be found throughout Europe, including Italy, Spain and parts of East Europe. It is also found in America, where they have become simplified, with spellings such as O'BERGER, OBER, OBERG, OBERGER, OBERT, UBERGER, or URRBERGER.
Other spellings also exist such as AUBERBAUER and UKBERBAUER, which reflects a more localized form of the name. Though they are all from the same origin, these variances in spelling indicate that the surname is now much more geographically diverse.
Famous people with the name Oberbauer
- Paul Oberbauer: American television script writer, film editor, and director.
- Ulrich Oberbauer: Austrian Interior designer, winner of the 2010 Austrian Federal Design Award.
- Wolfgang Oberbauer: Austrian Actor, professor of acting at the Zurich University of the Arts, and multiple winner of the Swiss Film Prize.
- Ingo Oberbauer: Austrian cartoonist and illustrator
- George Oberbauer: American jazz musician
- Helmut Oberbauer: German Chief Air Traffic Controller for Lufthansa.
- Thomas Oberbauer: Austrian politician
- Richard Oberbauer: American opera singer and teacher
- Fritz Oberbauer: Austrian Painter
- Andreas Oberbauer: Austrian doctor and politician