Show ContentsRohrbacher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Rohrbacher family are found in the German state of Bavaria. Rohrbacher was a local name, for 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 Rohrbacher family

The surname Rohrbacher 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 Rohrbacher family

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

Rohrbacher 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 Rohrbacher include Rohrbach, Rohrenbacher, Rohrenbach, Rohrbacher, Rorback, Rorbach, Rorbacker, Rorenback, Rorenbacker, Rohrbech, Rohrbecher, Rohrenbech, Rohrenbecher, Rohrbeck, Rohrbecker, Rohrenbeck and many more.

Early Notables of the Rohrbacher family

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


United States Rohrbacher migration to the United States +

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 Rohrbacher surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Rohrbacher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Christian Rohrbacher, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 [1]
Rohrbacher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Rohrbacher, who landed in Mississippi in 1843 [1]
  • Henry Rohrbacher setled in Texas in 1887

Contemporary Notables of the name Rohrbacher (post 1700) +

  • George Rohrbacher, American rancher in Washington State who created the Farming Game, a board game simulating the economics of a small farm in 1979
  • Réné François Rohrbacher (1789-1856), French ecclesiastical historian


  1. 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)


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