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

Jostad, 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 Jostad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jostad in America

Jostad is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jostad surname appeared 203 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 Jostad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jostad 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 Jostad

The surname Jostad has its origins in Norway, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old Norse words "jo" and "stadr," which together form a compound meaning "horse farm" or "horse meadow." This suggests that the name may have originated from a location or a farm where horses were raised or grazed.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in Norwegian census records and parish registers from the 16th and 17th centuries. Some variations in spelling, such as "Jostadh" and "Jøstad," were common during this time due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in record-keeping.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Jostad was Hans Jostad (1565-1642), a Norwegian farmer and landowner from the Trøndelag region. His name appears in several land deeds and legal documents from the early 17th century, providing insight into the prevalence of the name in that area during that period.

Another significant individual with the surname Jostad was Arne Jostad (1791-1868), a Norwegian politician and member of the Storting (Norwegian parliament) in the mid-19th century. He was known for his advocacy of farmers' rights and played a role in shaping agricultural policies during his tenure.

In the 19th century, the name Jostad was also found in the United States, likely due to Norwegian immigration. One notable American with this surname was Olaf Jostad (1843-1912), a Norwegian-American farmer and community leader who settled in Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was instrumental in establishing several Lutheran churches in the area and was active in local politics.

Another individual of note was Ingrid Jostad (1876-1954), a Norwegian-American author and educator. Born in Norway, she immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and became a prominent figure in the Norwegian-American community, publishing several books and articles on Norwegian culture and history.

Lastly, Bjørn Jostad (1920-2002) was a Norwegian athlete and Olympic medalist. He competed in cross-country skiing events at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where he won a silver medal in the 4x10 km relay.

Overall, the surname Jostad has a rich history rooted in Norwegian culture and geography, with various notable individuals bearing the name over the centuries, contributing to various fields such as politics, literature, and sports.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jostad

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

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 Jostad 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 Jostad 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 Jostad was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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