Surname Osterhold - Meaning and Origin
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Osterhold: What does the surname Osterhold mean?
The surname Osterhold is of Germanic origin and has both a geographical and a locational origin. It is derived from the Old German word oster, meaning ‘east’, combined with the Old German word hold, meaning ‘wood’. It is likely that the surname Osterhold was originally given to someone who lived near or in a wood in the east of a region.
In the Middle Ages, surnames were commonly used in Germany to identify people among a population. Since surnames identified people to a specific geographical location, those with the same surname were likely to be related or come from the same geographical location.
The surname Osterhold is quite rare and is found in both Germany and parts of the United States. Despite its relative scarcity, the surname Osterhold is well represented in German records from the Middle Ages. It was carried by a number of prominent families, including the famous middle class family of Osterhold, whose members were influential merchants and craftsmen in Northern Germany. The Osterholds held a senior position in the council of Luebeck in the late seventeenth century.
Overall, the surname Osterhold suggests an ancient origin and an ancestral connection to a specific geographical location. The surname suggests a heritage with a rich history, one steeped in European culture and linked to a particular part of a region.
Order DNA origin analysisOsterhold: Where does the name Osterhold come from?
The last name Osterhold is a common German surname that is found predominantly in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland.
In recent years, people with the Osterhold surname have started to spread out into other parts of Europe as well as to the United States and Canada. It is currently one of the most popular names in North America. The highest concentrations of the surname are found in Texas, California, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
In Germany, the family name is found mostly in Bavaria, with small numbers in Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and Lower Saxony. It is commonly found in major cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.
The Osterhold surname is derived from the German words "Oster" meaning "easter," and "Hold" meaning "a holder or owner." This indicates that the family was likely successful merchants prior to the 15th century.
Today, the Osterhold name is less common but still found throughout the German-speaking world and in pockets of the United States and Canada. The name is still sometimes found in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, although its presence has weakened over the last few centuries.
Variations of the surname Osterhold
Osterhold is a simple four-letter surname that has a few variants and spellings. These variants and spellings are helpful in tracing family histories and discovering relatives.
The most common variant of Osterhold is Osterhoudt. This version of the name has seen use throughout the Netherlands, as well as in the New Netherland colonies established in what is now the Northeastern United States. This variant is also the most common in the United States, where it is mainly a New York-based surname.
The spelling Osterhoud can also be found in records, particularly in Dutch documents. This spelling has been used mainly in the Netherlands.
Other variants or spellings of Osterhold include Osterhalt, which is most commonly found in Canada, Osterholt, most commonly found in the United States, and Oestrehold, found mainly in South Africa.
As with many surnames, Osterhold has multiple surnames with the same origin. These names include Ostrander, Ostheimer, Ostle, Osterhoudt, Osthoff, Ostwald, Ostdahl, Ostrowicz and Ostrowe. All of these surnames have the same family origin as Osterhold.
Studying a variety of spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin can be helpful in understanding the family history and genealogy of Osterhold.
Famous people with the name Osterhold
- Eric Osterhold: American football player, formerly played offensive guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.
- Horst Osterhold: German football goalkeeper who played in the Bundesliga for VfL Bochum.
- Lewis Osterhold: American jazz musician, bandleader, and music educator.
- Robert Osterhold: German physicist and university professor, specialized in the field of experimental plasma and fusion physics.
- Roland Osterhold: German basketball player who played professionally for TSV Speyer and Tulane University in the mid-1970s.
- Gerhard Osterhold: German footballer who played in the early years of the Bundesliga for Hamburger SV and Hertha BSC.
- Christoph Osterhold: German historian, specializing in the socio-political history of the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Kurt Osterhold: German footballer who is best known for his five-year spell with Eintracht Braunschweig in the Bundesliga.
- Michael Osterhold: American actor, known for his roles in films such as Hancock, Rules of Engagement, and The Pursuit of Happyness.
- Mark Osterhold: American composer and pianist, known for his work on film, television, and theater soundtracks.