Surname Oberjohann - Meaning and Origin
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Oberjohann: What does the surname Oberjohann mean?
The last name Oberjohann is derived from two German words - "Ober," which means "upper" or "superior," and "johann," which is a variation of the name "Johannes." Put together, the name literally means "superior John" or "upper John." This likely indicates that the name was originally originally given to someone of higher than average social standing.
Oberjohann is likely a relatively rare German surname, as it's derived from two unique given names. It may be included in some broader German surname categories, such as those beginning with the prefix "Ober-," or those of Central European descent.
Some geographic variations of the surname Oberjohann include Obrjohann, Obrejohann, and Oberejohann. It is believed that these variations originated in the Austro-Bavarian region of Germany, as this region was under Austrian rule between the years 1804 and 1918.
The most common spelling of Oberjohann in the United States is Oberejohann, as this variation became the preferred spelling of the name in the early 20th century. There are an estimated 1,500 people with this last name currently living in the U.S., indicating that their families have likely been in the country for several generations.
Order DNA origin analysisOberjohann: Where does the name Oberjohann come from?
Most instances of the German surname Oberjohann can be found in communities in eastern Germany. Oberjohann is most commonly found in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, where it has been recorded as early as 1648, though the name is likely older than that. It is also present in the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, and Hannover. Outside of Germany, it has spread to immigrant communities in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the United States.
The surname derives from the Middle High German "ober" ("upper") and "Johann" ("John"), making Oberjohann a geographic altronym, or surname created by the combination of location and personal name. Because the name does not possess any hereditary implications, many individuals with the surname may have had no familial connection in the original bearer of the name.
Analysis of the data from 1990s US Census Bureau records has placed the number of Oberjohann-bearers in the United States at roughly 1473 individuals. These individuals are most common in Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and Illinois. The majority of Oberjohann-bearers in the United Stated are of German descent, though some may have familial connections to other nations as well.
The meaning of the name Oberjohann is a reminder of the importance of place and geography in German history, and of the waves of immigrants from European countries that have shaped American society.
Variations of the surname Oberjohann
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Oberjohann are Obergjohann, Oberjohan, Oberjohn, Oberejohn, Oberjohnn, Oberjon, Oberjonn, Oberjuhn, Oberjunn, Obergjohn, Oberjahn, Oberjohans, Oberjohannes, Obergjones, Oberjones, Oberjun, Oberejohns, Oberjohns, Oberjoens, Oberjonns, Oberjuhns, Oberjonnes, Oberejons, etc.
The first recorded reference of the surname was in the year 1212 in the Saxony region of Germany. The spelling was then known as 'Obergjohann', which literally means 'high' or 'upper John'. It is possible that the name was derived from a family where several members would have the same name, so the father was known affectionately as 'the big John' or 'the elder John'.
The Oberjohann surname spread across Europe during medieval times. It can be found in many European countries, such as France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is not uncommon to find the variations of the name that correspond to the languages of those countries. For instance, the French variant of Oberjohann is Obrejohn, and the Dutch variation is Obergjohanns.
Today, the Oberjohann surname remains popular in many countries across the world. However, it is most commonly seen in Germany, where it is estimated that over 10,000 individuals carry the name. Additionally, the name is popular in the United States, with about 3,000 people bearing the name. In both countries, there are a number of variant spelling of the Oberjohann surname, so it is important to conduct thorough research in order to find the exact origin of the name.
Famous people with the name Oberjohann
1.Ludwig Oberjohann: German long-distance runner who competed in the 1896 Olympic Games 2.Johann Georg Oberjohann: German hymn writer and composer 3.Bruno Oberjohann: German Olympic cyclist who competed in 1924 4.Friedrich Oberjohann: German World War I pilot 5.Carl Wilhelm Oberjohann: German zoologist who worked on the first systematic description of the fish in the area around Berlin 6.Jörg Oberjohann: German biathlete and cross-country skier 7.Christoph Oberjohann: German footballer who played for Hamburger SV 8.Stephan Oberjohann: German football coach 9.Gerhard Oberjohann: German footballer who was part of the 1958 World Cup winning team 10.Walter Oberjohann: Austrian sculptor and painter