Surname Ostendorf - Meaning and Origin
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L. Ostendorf
read moreOstendorf: What does the surname Ostendorf mean?
The last name Ostendorf is of German origin. It comes from the Middle High German word “ostant” which translates to “of the east”, indicating a family whose origins stemmed from the east. This name was likely given to those originating from the east, likely indicating a migration from east of the Rhine River.
The Ostendorf name is actually linked to a region of what is now Lower Saxony in Germany although the family moved around over the centuries. It is also possible that the Ostendorfs moved even further afar and some members settled in other parts of Europe, which may or may not have impacted the spelling of the name or its adoption in other countries.
Early variations of the Ostendorf surname appear in records in the Middle Ages. It has also been hyphenated and combined with other names such as Ostendorf-John, Ostendorf-Köppen, or Van ostendorf.
Today, it is still common to find members of the Ostendorf family in Germany. Immigrants from this area may have brought the name abroad in the nineteenth century, in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although not as widespread as some other German surnames, the Ostendorf name can still be found in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisOstendorf: Where does the name Ostendorf come from?
The last name Ostendorf is most commonly found in western Germany and the Netherlands today. To be more specific, it is most common in the regions of Rheinland-Pfalz, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Niedersachsen in Germany, as well as Gelderland and Overijssel in the Netherlands. In the United States, Ostendorf is primarily concentrated in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with some concentrations in Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan.
The name can likely be traced back to the Middle Ages in Germany, when people with the name often lived in the Rheinland region as fishermen, merchants, or members of the clergy. There's evidence that Ostendorf settlements have existed since at least the 13th century, and it may have even been the name of a small village in the Rheinland region at one point.
It's not clear how the name made its way to the United States, but one likely scenario is that German immigrants brought the name over in the 18th and 19th centuries, settling in the Midwest. Today, the name still enjoys a certain degree of connection to its Germanic roots, though it has been substantially Anglicized in the United States.
Variations of the surname Ostendorf
The surname Ostendorf is German in origin, and is derived from the German word “Osten” meaning “east” and “dorff” meaning “village”, so the literal translation of Ostendorf is “East Village”. Variants of the surname Ostendorf that are seen in records include Ostendorp, Oostendorp, Oostendorf, Oostendorp, Oostendorff, Oostendorpf, Oostendorff, Oostendorpff, Oostendubb, Ostendubbe, Eastendorf, Estendorf, Oostenberge, Oostenbrugge, Oostenberghe, Oostenbrügge, Ostenburge, Ostenburg, and Oostenburge.
Spellings of the surname Ostendorf can vary depending on which country the records were located in. Many variations on Ostendorf are seen in records located in countries such as Prussia, Poland, Austria, and other German speaking countries. These include Ostendorff, Oostendorff, Estendorff, Ostendorf, Oostendorf, Eastendorff, and other phonetic variations on the surname.
Similar surnames of Ostendorf that are likely to have the same origin, but could also be variations of other names, include Ost, Ostrowski, Oster, Osterman, Ostermann, Ostermeyer, Ostertag, Osthoff, Osthues, Osterkamp, Ostertag, and Ostberg. In many instances these names may be related to Ostendorf since they all share similar German characteristics. It is difficult to accurately determine if the surnames have the same origin without further research.
Famous people with the name Ostendorf
- Jessica Ostendorf: Professional figure skater who won gold at the 2016 US National Championships
- Erich Ostendorf: German actor best known for his role in the television series Lindenstraße
- Lena Ostendorf: German actress and television presenter
- Bernd Ostendorf: German classical sculptor who has won numerous awards for his work
- David Ostendorf: German footballer who played for FC Schalke youth team
- Richard Ostendorf: Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
- Konstanze Ostendorf: German equestrian athlete and dressage world champion
- Lisa Ostendorf: American-born German scientific researcher
- Thorsten Ostendorf: German sound engineer
- Clemens Ostendorf: German businessperson, a leader in the automotive aftermarket industry