Surname Oberdorff - Meaning and Origin
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Oberdorff: What does the surname Oberdorff mean?
The last name Oberdorff is a German surname that originated in the region of Westphalia. Its roots trace back to the Middle Ages, when families that were residing near the river called “Eder” (which flows in the region of Westphalia) adopted the name Oberdorff. According to the German ancestry records, it is likely a combination of two terms: Ober (meaning upper) and Dorff (meaning village).
The Oberdorff family lived in and around the border of the Duchy of Westphalia in the Middle Ages. They were originally peasants and worked the land of the region, but some Oberdorffs became prominent and wealthy landowners. The name Oberdorff was also adopted by some old noble families of Westphalia.
In modern times, those who possess the Oberdorff surname can be found in German-speaking countries all over the world. It is especially common in Germany, the US, and Australia.
The meaning of the Oberdorff surname can be interpreted literally as “upper village” or figuratively as a way of honoring someone’s place of origin. In either case, the name Oberdorff is steeped in the history and culture of Westphalia and continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisOberdorff: Where does the name Oberdorff come from?
The last name Oberdorff is a German surname originating from the Rhineland region of Germany where it is still most commonly found today. The Lower Rhine region of Germany is where most people with this surname are from, and it is thought that the family may have originated in this area centuries ago.
The small towns of Mettmann, Oberhausen and Duisburg in the Rhineland region of North-Rhine Westphalia is where the largest populations of Oberdorffs can be found. Interestingly, the family name can also be found scattered throughout the former states of the German Empire, with the majority of them living in the cities of Leipzig and Hamburg.
In the United States, the last name has been found in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia as well as in New York. It is believed that the Oberdorffs immigrated to the United States in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
Today, the Internet has helped Oberdorffs all over the world to connect with each other and learn about their shared history. With the help of social media, genealogy sites and other internet resources, many Oberdorffs have been able to trace their family tree, finding out more about the history of their family and its places of origin.
Variations of the surname Oberdorff
Oberdorff is a German surname that has many possible variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include: Oberdorfer, Oberdörffer, Obersdorfer, Obertdorfer, Öbertdorfer, Oberthorfer, Oberthürfer, Oberdörfer, Oberdörffer, Oberdorffer, and Obertoorfer.
The spelling of Oberdorff is derived from the old Germanic language, and literally translates to “high village”. In some cases, the spelling with a single 'r' is often more common. The surname is also found with the German honorific prefix "von", meaning “of”, though this is more often seen in aristocratic or noble families.
The surname Oberdorff has several alternate spellings related to the German language. For example, Oberdorfer is one of the most common variations of Oberdorff. This spelling often refers to a person from the Oberdorfer region, which is located in the east of Germany. Additionally, Oberdörfer and Obersdorfer are also common spellings, with the former meaning "above the village",while the latter "over the village".
In addition to these variants, there are also surnames of the same origin, such as Oberthürfer, Oberthorfer and Öbertdorfer. The surname Oberthürfer is derived from the old Germanic words for “above” and “villages”, literally meaning a person who was from a village located above the rest. Similarly, Oberthorfer is related to the same german words, with "tor" meaning "gate" instead of "thür" meaning "village gates". Öbertdorfer is an uncommon spelling, and is derived from the spelling of Oberdorff with the ö letter instead of the o letter.
Lastly, Oberdörfer refers to people who were from a village located higher up than the surrounding villages, and Oberdörffer and Oberdorffer are variations that have a similar meaning. These spellings are more commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Oberdorff
- Christian Oberdorff: a French model, fashion editor, and designer
- William Oberdorff: an American banker and philanthropist
- Michael Oberdorff: a business leader and former CEO of Unilever USA
- André Oberdorff: a French actor and filmmaker
- Nikki Oberdorff: an American landscape artist
- Jacques Oberdorff: a French builder and motor-sport driver
- Steve Oberdorff: an American soccer coach and former professional player
- Nick Oberdorff: an American actor, producer, and screenwriter
- Eduard Oberdorff: an Austrian theologian
- Robert Oberdorff: a German artist and sculptor
- Felix Oberdorff: a German television producer and documentary filmmaker
- Gustav Oberdorff: a German botanist
- Gerome Oberdorff: a French lawyer, politician, and diplomat
- August Oberdorff: a German philosopher, historian, and professor
- Susanna Oberdorff: a Swiss painter and sculptor
- Pierre Oberdorff: a French writer and documentary filmmaker
- Marie Oberdorff: a French journalist and author
- Jean Oberdorff: a French composer and pianist
- Florent Oberdorff: a French sculptor and architect
- Stanislaus Oberdorff: a German physician, writer, and translator
- Emma Oberdorff: a French courtesan, Femme de Lettres, and memoirist
- Martha Oberdorff: a German-Slovene pianist and pedagogue