Show ContentsOrbach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Orbach family are found in the German state of Bavaria. The Orbach surname, was a local name, for someone who lived in several places in Southern Germany having derived from the Old German words Aurochs, a kind of wild bull that is now extinct, and bach, which means stream. The word auerbach can also mean a marshy brook.

Early Origins of the Orbach family

The surname Orbach was first found in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Orbach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orbach research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1654, 1812 and 1882 are included under the topic Early Orbach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orbach Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Orbach include Auerbach, Auerback, Auerbacke, Auerbache, Aurbach, Urbach and many more.

Early Notables of the Orbach family

Prominent among members of the name Orbach in this period include Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882), German writer of village life in the Black Forest. Auerbach's Keller was a...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Orbach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Orbach family

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Orbach surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Louis Auerbach, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1852.


Contemporary Notables of the name Orbach (post 1700) +

  • Raymond L. Orbach, American physicist and administrator
  • Jerry Orbach (1935-2004), American actor
  • Elaine Cancilla Orbach (1940-2009), American stage and musical theatre actress and dancer
  • Jerry Orbach (d. 2004), American actor and singer
  • Wilhelm Orbach (1894-1944), German chess master
  • Susie Orbach, British psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer and social critic based in London
  • Maurice Orbach (1902-1979), British Labour Party politician


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