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

Obed, 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 Obed surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Obed in America

Obed is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Obed surname appeared 218 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 Obed.

We can also compare 2010 data for Obed 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 Obed

The surname OBED is believed to have its origins in the Hebrew language and biblical references. It is derived from the Hebrew name 'Obed', which means "servant" or "worshipper". This name can be traced back to the Old Testament, where it was borne by several individuals, including one of the sons of Ruth from the Book of Ruth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname OBED can be found in medieval Jewish records from central and eastern Europe, particularly in areas with significant Jewish populations, such as Poland and Germany. It is likely that the surname was adopted by families of Jewish descent during the Middle Ages when surnames began to become more widespread.

In the 16th century, the surname OBED appeared in various records and documents across Europe, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Obede or Obediah. One notable individual bearing this name was Obed Edom, a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Chronicles as a Levite who guarded the Ark of the Covenant.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the OBED surname gained prominence in England, where it was associated with several notable figures. One such figure was John Obed, a renowned English Baptist minister and author who lived from 1611 to 1685. Another prominent individual was Nathaniel Obed, an English politician and member of Parliament who was born in 1657.

As the centuries progressed, the OBED surname spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and colonization. In the 19th century, the name was recorded in the United States, with individuals like Obed Hussey (1792-1860), an American inventor known for his contributions to the development of the mechanical reaper.

Other notable individuals with the surname OBED include Obed Carr (1793-1859), an American politician and judge from New York, and Obed Tanner (1783-1858), a Mormon pioneer and early settler of Utah. In more recent times, Obed Chilaka (born 1953) is a Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his works depicting traditional African themes.

It is important to note that while the OBED surname has its roots in biblical and religious origins, it has since been adopted by individuals of various backgrounds and cultures, reflecting the diverse and rich tapestry of human history and migration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Obed

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

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

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

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