Surname Ottemoeller - Meaning and Origin
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Ottemoeller: What does the surname Ottemoeller mean?
The last name Ottemoeller is of German origin. It is derived from a combination of two German words - 'ott' meaning 'eight', and 'müller' meaning miller. Therefore, the literal meaning of this surname is 'eight miller'. Mills were traditionally used to grind flour and other grains, implying that the original bearer of this surname was likely a miller.
The surname is believed to have originated among German settlers in Pennsylvania, known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. Specifically, the Ottemoeller surname is Scandinavian in origin, indicating that the original family was likely of Swedes or Finnish heritage. The surname has spread over the years, with variations appearing such as Ottemoeller, Ottemueller, Ottemöller, Otteroeller and Utteöller.
The name likely has a longer and more interesting history attached to it. It is possible that some variant of this surname was used by some of the original settlers to the region. In any case, the name has since spread throughout the United States and remains a fairly common last name. The name is a source of pride for many families and serves as a reminder of the rich history of Pennsylvania Dutch and German immigrants who helped to shape the state into what it is today.
Order DNA origin analysisOttemoeller: Where does the name Ottemoeller come from?
The last name Ottemoeller is most common in Germany today. The name is of German origin, with reported instances of its use dating as far back as the 16th century. It is believed that the name originally derived from either the towns "Oldenmöller" or "Ottmöller", which were located in Northern Germany.
In modern times, the name Ottemoeller can be found most prominently in regions of Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. Several municipalities in Germany have a high concentration of individuals with the last name Ottemoeller, including Lutherstadt Eisleben, Altenburg, and Bernstadt a. d. Eigen.
Outside of Germany, the name has also been recorded in parts of Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States. The most well-known individual with a variant of this surname is American baseball pitcher Anthony Ottomueller, who played professionally for the Baltimore Orioles.
In total, it is estimated that over 9,000 individuals bear the surname Ottemoeller. Most of them reside in Germany, though there is a small but significant population spread across other countries in Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Ottemoeller
The surname Ottemoeller is of German origin. Its variants extand to Öttemöller, Ottemueller, Odemueller, and Oetemueller. It is a topographic surname which was used to describe a person from a place near a forest clearing.
The earliest documented recording of the surname was in 1427 in a charters, which recorded the name Johannes de Odemeller in the Baden region of Germany. The name can also be found in records of civil registration movements in the 19th century, Knowles surname archive suggests that the Anglised spellings of the surname are probably derived from the Palatinate-German spelling of the name.
In the 16th century Ottemoeller was found in particular in the duchies of Holstein-Gottorp and Hamburg in Northern Germany. Over the centuries, it migrated to the Westphalia region, and the wider German Empire. During World War II some members of the line moved to the United States.
Another gender-neutral variant is Ottemeyer. It has much more prominent appearance in Dutch records than in German documents during the 17th and 18th centuries. Ottemeyer was also especially common in the Dutch province of North Holland.
Some people with the surname Ottemoeller may also use alternatives such as Ottemehler, Ottemöhlau, Ottemöhl, Ottemöllerin, and Oetemöllerin. People with the Ottemoeller surname could also be found in the Dutch colonies of Cape Colony of South Africa and Surinam.
In the United States today, no exact number of people with the Ottemoeller surname is known, but it’s still a largely held surname in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Illinois.
No matter the spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ottemoeller, what they all have in common is that, it traces its origin to the Palatinate-German region of Germany and Northern Europe.
Famous people with the name Ottemoeller
- Joshua Ottemoeller: Christian singer-songwriter and worship leader
- John Ottemoeller: Overland Park Police lieutenant
- Nikolaus Ottemoeller: German composer
- Sue Ottemoeller: Political Strategist and Regional Political Director
- Yvonne Ottemoeller: American athlete who competed mainly in the long jump
- Louis Ottemoeller: Catholic priest and former missionary to India
- Lee Ottemoeller: Artist, designer, and photographer
- Richard Ottemoeller: German physicist
- Michael Ottemoeller: Director and producer of television, film and theater
- Stefan Ottemoeller: German international soccer player