Find out how popular the last name Elstad is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Elstad.

Elstad, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Elstad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elstad in America

Elstad is the 49365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elstad surname appeared 426 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Elstad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elstad to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Elstad

The surname ELSTAD originates from Norway, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "elsta," which means "to burn" or "to set on fire," combined with the suffix "-ad," indicating a place or location. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where controlled burning or land clearing took place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ELSTAD surname can be found in the parish records of Telemark, a county in southern Norway, where a family with the name resided in the late 1500s. The name is also closely associated with the Elstad farm in Vestre Toten, a municipality in Innlandet county, which may have been the original homestead of the family bearing this surname.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ELSTAD name became more widespread across Norway, as families migrated and settled in different regions. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Hans Elstad (1776-1857), a Norwegian farmer and politician who served as a representative in the Storting, the Norwegian parliament, from 1835 to 1837.

Another prominent figure was Ingrid Elstad (1895-1982), a Norwegian novelist and playwright known for her works depicting rural life and the struggles of women in Norway during the early 20th century. Her most famous novel, "The Crofter's Wife," published in 1955, earned her critical acclaim and literary recognition.

In the 19th century, the ELSTAD surname began to appear in historical records outside of Norway, as some families emigrated to other parts of the world. One such individual was Ole Elstad (1832-1911), who left Norway for the United States in the late 1800s, settling in Minnesota. He became a successful farmer and played a role in establishing the local Norwegian-American community.

Another notable figure was Nils Elstad (1867-1949), a Norwegian-American author and journalist who immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century. He wrote extensively about the experiences of Norwegian immigrants in America and was instrumental in preserving Norwegian cultural heritage in the United States.

While the ELSTAD surname has its roots in Norway, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with families bearing this name found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elstad

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Elstad.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Elstad was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Elstad has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Elstad was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elstad, please contact us.

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