Österreicher (surname)

(German) One from Austria (Österreich)

This surname was given to numerous immigrants as they arrived at Ellis Island in New York. Since some new arrivals did not have surnames, immigration officers often assigned them names based on their profession or place of origin.

(Example: my Grandfather Samual came from Baded Baded in Austria in 1902 - Since he had no surname he was named Sam Oestreicher, my family has carried that name ever since - written by Stefan Oestreicher 2005)