Show ContentsOldehus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Oldehus is a local name from the German region of Westphalia. Local names and other types of hereditary surnames began to be used in Germany after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". This was originally an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes a mark of aristocracy. The family originally lived in an ancient dwelling or a very old house. The name Oldehus is derived from the German words alt, which means old, and haus, which means house. There is also a place in Germany called Althaus and thus, this surname may have been given to a person that was from this town.

Early Origins of the Oldehus family

The surname Oldehus was first found in Muensterland, Westphalia, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. Chronicles first mention Conradus de Oldenhus, a family in Muenster, in 1353.

Early History of the Oldehus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oldehus research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1556 and 1637 are included under the topic Early Oldehus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oldehus 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 Oldehus include Althaus, Althausen, Althous, Althousen, Althouse, Althausens, Althaussen, Althusen, Althussen, Oldehus, Oldenhus, Alshaus, Allshouse, Allshaus, Althuyzer, Althäuser and many more.

Early Notables of the Oldehus family

More information is included under the topic Early Oldehus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Oldehus migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Oldehus Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Oldehus, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 1


  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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