Surname Oberhänsli - Meaning and Origin
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Oberhänsli: What does the surname Oberhänsli mean?
The last name Oberhänsli is an old Swiss surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old High German “hansa” meaning ‘a grouping of people in the same place’ and the prefix “über”, which was used to denote “over” or “above”. The original bearer of Oberhänsli was either someone who was important enough to take charge of a group of people, or someone who lived high up, which could refer either to a high mountain or a higher status of social standing.
The surname is believed to have originated in the Swiss canton of Schwyz, an area known for its rugged mountains and beautiful landscape. The first recorded mention of the name is believed to have appeared in 1244 in a document from the town of Pfäfers located in today's western canton of St. Gallen.
Today, Oberhänsli is a common surname in Switzerland, though not as widespread as it was in the thirteenth century. It is still particularly prominent in the canton of Schwyz, although it is found in various other Swiss cantons and also in nearby countries like Austria.
Despite its Germanic origin, Oberhänsli does not have a single meaning, and it is likely that the individual bearers of the name gave it their own unique interpretation and significance. As such, its original meanings may still be relevant to the Oberhänslis of today, whether or not they know their family’s heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisOberhänsli: Where does the name Oberhänsli come from?
The last name Oberhänsli is a very uncommon name found mainly in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, as well as in some southern German-speaking countries. The name is derived from the old German word "Oberhans" which means "high bar". Oberhänsli is also used as the name of a nearby mountain chain in the canton of Graubünden, suggesting that the surname likely developed from the mountain family living in the area.
The surname Oberhänsli is most common in the Lüina, Quittengau and Viamala valleys in Graubünden. It is also found in parts of St. Gallen, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Thurgau in Switzerland, as well as the Upper Palatinate area of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Oberhänsli is also found in some other parts of Europe such as France and Italy where it is spelt as Oberraensli.
The number of people carrying the surname Oberhänsli is decreasing due to migration. According to Switzerland's Federal Statistical Office, the number of people with the surname Oberhänsli in all of Switzerland was 615 in 2010; this number dropped to 509 in 2017. In Switzerland, the number of people with the surname Oberhänsli in Graubünden has dropped from 527 in 2000 to 446 in 2017.
The number of people carrying the last name Oberhänsli globally is difficult to estimate because data is not readily available. However, while the number of people bearing the last name has decreased overall, the number of people with the last name is still significant enough to make it a recognizable name in some parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Oberhänsli
The surname Oberhänsli is a Swiss-German name derived from the Middle High German word "hansila," meaning small house. It is a toponymic surname derived from a habitational name, referring to someone from a place called Oberhäne.
Variants of the surname Oberhänsli include Oberhäne, Oberhans, Oberhansly, Oberheinsle, Oberhänsler, Oberhansly, Obertong}ler, Oberhengsle, Oberhünsler, Obergensle, Oberhünsle, and Oberheincile.
The spelling of Oberhänsli has been corrupted over time to many variations, including Auberhansli, Afberhanslee, Iffberhanslee, Hudberhanslee, Offborhanslee, and Uffherhanslee. Variations of the name have been found in other languages, such as Oyburhansle in Dutch, Ogherhansli in Polish, Éberhänsli in Swedish, and Oaborhansli in Norwegian.
The many variants of Oberhänsli have led to many surnames around the world which trace their roots to this single name. These surnames include Overhans, Huberhans, Abberhans, Overhouse, Overpayn, Offen, Ofle, Hoofman, Heults, Heinsley, Oven, and Hoofner.
Some of the more common variants of Oberhänsli found in North America include Overhulshize, Obertongler, and Ovenhouse.
Also, the surname Oberhänsli is a common surname in some parts of Switzerland, particularly in the cantons of Aargau, Zurich, and St. Gallen.
Famous people with the name Oberhänsli
- Roger Oberhänsli: Swiss Olympic cycling champion
- Yvette Oberhänsli: Miss Switzerland 1958
- Hans O. Oberhänsli: Chancellor of Austrian university
- Heinz Oberhänsli: Swiss alpine skier
- Peter Oberhänsli: Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain guide
- Nico Oberhänsli: Swiss musician and producer
- Werner Oberhänsli: Swiss photographer
- Jürg Oberhänsli: Swiss engineer and project manager
- René Oberhänsli: Swiss politician
- H. B. O. Oberhänsli: Swiss historian and writer
- Helmut Oberhänsli: Swiss artist
- Mario Oberhänsli: Swiss media adviser and consultant
- Urs Oberhänsli: Swiss academic and professor
- Elisabeth Oberhänsli: Swiss pianist and composer
- Matthias Oberhänsli: Swiss actor and composer
- Erich Oberhänsli: Swiss painter and graphic artist
- Alois Oberhänsli: Swiss businessman and entrepreneur
- Caspar Oberhänsli: Swiss composer and musicologist