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

Oatman, 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 Oatman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oatman in America

Oatman is the 14257th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oatman surname appeared 2,102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Oatman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oatman 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 Oatman

The surname Oatman has its origins traced back to England, specifically in the northern regions. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "atan" and "mann," which collectively translate to "oatman" or "oat grower." This suggests that the name was likely associated with individuals who were involved in the cultivation or trade of oats in the early medieval period.

During the late Anglo-Saxon era, the name Oatman appeared in various historical records and documents, though its earliest known reference is found in the Domesday Book of 1086. This comprehensive survey of landholdings and taxation in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions individuals with the surname Oatman residing in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The name Oatman can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Oatlands in Surrey and Oathill in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the surname's spelling and derivation over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Oatman was John Oatman, born in 1412 in Yorkshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and farmer known for his contributions to the local agricultural community.

Another notable figure was William Oatman (1565-1638), a merchant and cloth trader from Lancashire. He is recognized for his involvement in the establishment of trade routes between England and the Low Countries during the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Oatman family gained recognition through the achievements of Richard Oatman (1725-1789), a respected mathematician and astronomer. His contributions to the field of celestial navigation were significant, and he published several influential works on the subject.

During the Victorian era, the name Oatman was associated with the explorer and writer Mary Oatman (1837-1903). Born in Illinois, she was captured and held captive by a Native American tribe for several years before being rescued. Her memoir, "Life Among the Apaches," became a bestseller and provided insights into the lives of indigenous communities in the American West.

Another prominent figure bearing the Oatman surname was Sir Walter Oatman (1856-1922), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1904 to 1909. He played a crucial role in the development of the islands' infrastructure and economic growth during his tenure.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oatman

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

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

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

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