Rohrbach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The Rohrbach family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, as hereditary surnames began to be adopted, names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Rohrbach is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Rohrbach was given to someone who lived in Bavaria The name may stem from the German word rohr, which means reed. Thus, it is a topographical name indicating a person who lived in or near an area thickly overgrown with reeds.

Early Origins of the Rohrbach family

The surname Rohrbach was first found in Bavaria, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. Bearers of the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Rohrbach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rohrbach research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the year 1623 is included under the topic Early Rohrbach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rohrbach Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Rohrbach include Rohrbach, Rohrenbacher, Rohrenbach, Rohrbacher, Rorback, Rorbach, Rorbacker, Rorenback, Rorenbacker, Rohrbech, Rohrbecher, Rohrenbech, Rohrenbecher, Rohrbeck, Rohrbecker, Rohrenbeck and many more.

Early Notables of the Rohrbach family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rohrbach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rohrbach Ranking

In the United States, the name Rohrbach is the 11,463^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Rohrbach migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Rohrbach Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Heinrich Rohrbach, who settled in Carolina and/or Pennsylvania in 1709
Elisabetha Rohrbach, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 2
Johannes Rohrbach, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 2
Reinhard Joh Rohrbach, who arrived in America in 1749 2
Johan Rinehart Rohrbach, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rohrbach Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Georg Wilhelm Rohrbach, aged 25, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 2
Andrews Rohrbach, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 2
Christian Adolf Rohrbach, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 2
G. Rohrbach, who settled in Texas in 1853
Adam Rohrbach, aged 17, who arrived in America in 1853 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rohrbach (post 1700) +

Eric J. Rohrbach, American politician from Washington
Bob Rohrbach, retired American professional soccer forward
Peter Thomas Rohrbach, American author and editor
Larry Rohrbach (b. 1946), American Misouri State Senator
Paul Rohrbach (1846-1871), German botanist
Thomas Rohrbach (b. 1949), retired German footballer
Paul Rohrbach (1869-1956), German writer

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)