Surname Olbrich - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling the Mysteries of the Family Tree: My Emotional Journey with iGENEA

Embarking on an emotional journey of cultural discovery, the writer explores the complexities of their family lineage and the profound connection to their surname, Olbrich, through the vehicle of iGENEA's DNA testing.

M. Olbrich

Olbrich: What does the surname Olbrich mean?

The surname Olbrich is a family name of German origin. The name is derived from 'Oberlach', which itself comes from the Old High German 'ober-lach' meaning 'upper stream'. This suggests a likely origin among people who lived near to - or had a connection with - a particular stream. In fact, this suggests that the bearers of the name may have been involved with fishing or ferrying goods across rivers in the past.

The name is broadly popular throughout Germany, and is still relatively common today. It can also be found among expatriate populations, such as German-Americans and those of German ancestry who have settled across Europe and the United States.

The surname can also be found in the form 'Aulbrich', indicating that variants of the name had once existed.

Overall, Olbrich has a significant and long-standing history in German culture and its variants are still popular across the world. It is generally associated with a keen sense of industriousness and self-sufficiency, instilled by the families who proudly bore the name over countless generations.

Olbrich: Where does the name Olbrich come from?

The last name Olbrich is very common throughout Germany. Olbrich was one of the most common surnames in the German-speaking area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has also been found in parts of Luxembourg and Austria. Today, Olbrich is a German surname found in the Ruhr area, along the Rhine, in Bavaria, and in Baden-Württemberg. It is also found throughout the Americas, especially in the United States, Canada, and South America. Olbrich is now most widespread in the United States, where over 34,000 Americans bear the name. It can be found in all parts of the United States, but is most frequently found in Wisconsin, California, Texas, Illinois, and New York. Olbrich is likely to have been brought to the United States by German-speaking immigrants. It is also found in Brazil, where it is of German origin. The name is also found in Canada, with over 500 Canadians bearing the name Olbrich.

Variations of the surname Olbrich

The surname Olbrich is mainly found in German-speaking countries. It is derived from the Middle High German word "ol" which means "alder tree" and "brich" which means "brushwood pile". As such, the name can be translated to mean "alder wood pile".

The originally German surname has several variants in terms of spelling and regional alternations. In some parts of Germany the name is spelled Olbrych, Oelbrych, Olbrych, Olbrichs, Olbricht, Olbrichts, Oelbrich, Olbrick, Olbricks, Olbrecht, Olbrechts, Oelbrecht, Oelbrechts or Olberts.

In addition, the name has several surnames of the same origin. These alternative surnames include Olbrych, Oelbrych, Olbrych, Olbrichs, Olbricht, Olbrichts, Oelbrich, Olbrick, Olbricks, Olbrecht, Olbrechts, Oelbrecht, Oelbrechts, Olberts, Elbrych, Edelbrych, Elbrichs, Elbricht, Elbrichts, Edelbrich, Elbrick, Edelbricks, Elbrecht, Elbrechts, Edelbrecht, Edelbrechts and Albrecht.

The local pronunciation of the surname can also have an effect on its spelling. In different regions of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the surname is pronounced ˈɔlfʁɪç, ˈoːlfʁɪç or ˈaːɐ̯fʁɪç.

Overall, the surname Olbrich is a variations of the Middle High German words meaning "alder wood pile". It has several spelling variations, both in German and English, as well as several surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Olbrich

• Balthasar Olbrich (1860-1908), German sculptor
• Jochen Olbrich (1935-2008), German artist
• Richard J. Olbrich (1913-2001), American physicist
• Tertullian Olbrich (1956-2013), German painter and sculptor
• Hans Olbrich (born 1954), German, Chief of the Air Staff (DEU Luftwaffe)
• Robin Olbrich (born 1987), German sport shooter
• Bo Olbrich (born 1946), Swedish, CEO of Nordstjernan_AB
• Wolfgang Olbrich (born 1958), German triathlete
• Harold Olbrich (born 1895), German-American mathematician
• Elfi Olbrich (born 1950), German actress

Other surnames

OlbrichtOlbrig