Ochs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Ochs

What does the name Ochs mean?

The ancient roots of the Ochs family are found in the German state of Bavaria. Ochs was a local name, for someone who lived in Franconia, where their name rose to prominence through their involvement in the social and cultural affairs of the area. Their seat and land holdings were in the free canton of Gebuerg. The ancestral home of the Ochs family is found in the Rhineland. Ochs is of several possible origins, all of which derive from a common root; the name comes from the Middle High German ochs, meaning "ox." It may have originated from a nickname, referring to "one as stubborn as an ox." Alternatively, the original bearer of the name may have been someone who kept or sold oxen. Finally, the surname may be derived from a place of residence distinguished by a sign; in this case, the name would indicate "one who dwelled in the house with the sign of the ox."

Early Origins of the Ochs family

The surname Ochs was first found in the Rhineland, where the Ochs family became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. The earliest known bearer of the name was Hans Ochslin, who was a resident of Waldsee in 1536. Always prominent in social affairs, the young Ochs family became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Ochs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ochs research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1752, 1802, 1810 and 1821 are included under the topic Early Ochs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ochs 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 Ochs include Ochs, Ochss, Ochse, Och, Ochsse, Ocks, Ockss, Ockse, Ocksse, Osse (northern Germany), Oexle (Swabia), Oxle (Swabia), Oechsle, Ochsner, Exline, Echslin, Oxle, Ochslein ("little ox") and many more.

Early Notables of the Ochs family

Peter Ochse from Gieselfeld (around 1554), a member of the Danish branch of the family who moved to Ravensburg where he became a major in the Bavarian army...
Pierre Ochs (1752-1821) was a prominent Swiss politician...

Ochs Ranking

the United States, the name Ochs is the 4,717^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Ochs 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 Ochs surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Ochs Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Georg Ochs, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2
George Ochs, who landed in New York in 1773 2

Ochs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nicolous Ochs, who was naturalized in Missouri in 1840
Nicolous Ochs, aged 37, who landed in Missouri in 1840 2
Barbera Ochs, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1849 2
Franzis Ochs, who arrived in Iowa in 1849 2
Ludw Ochs, who landed in America in 1852 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ochs (post 1700) +

Philip David "Phil" Ochs (1940-1976), American songwriter, protest singer, and political activist
Michael Andrew Ochs (1943-2025), American photographic archivist, best known for his extensive collection of pictures related to rock music dating back to the 1950s and 1960s
Larry Ochs (b. 1949), American jazz saxophonist and composer
Elinor Ochs, American linguistic anthropologist, and professor of Anthropology
Meredith Ochs, American radio commentator, DJ, writer and musician
Sonia "Sonny" Ochs, American music producer and radio host
Adolph Simon Ochs (1858-1935), American newspaper publisher and former owner of The New York Times
Craig Ochs (b. 1981), American football quarterback
Georg Hermann Alexander Ochs (1887-1971), German entomologist
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"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)