Abensperg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Abensperg

What does the name Abensperg mean?

The Abensperg surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Abensperg 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 Abensperg was given to someone who lived in the area of the Danube and the Abenst in Bavaria. The name is also a local name from a place in Carinthia Austria. The name was originally derived from the German words for abint, which means evening, and berg, which means hill.

Early Origins of the Abensperg family

The surname Abensperg was first found in Bavaria, where the name came from the name of the tributary of the Danube and the Abenst, where this family had their seat. They gained a significant reputation for their contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. The family later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and manors, some in foreign countries, always elevating their social status.

Early History of the Abensperg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abensperg research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1441, 1485, 1653, 1668, 1677 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Abensperg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Abensperg 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 Abensperg include Abendsperg, Abensberg, Abendsperg, Abennsperg, Abenesperg and many more.

Early Notables of the Abensperg family

Ernst Abensperg (d. 1668), of a line of Austrian counts, who was commandant of the city of Vienna
Otto Ferdinand, count von Abensperg und Traun (1677-1748), Austrian field marshal

Migration of the Abensperg family

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: settlers who arrived along the eastern seaboard of the United States, and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries.