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

Obenchain, 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 Obenchain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Obenchain in America

Obenchain is the 43285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Obenchain surname appeared 499 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 Obenchain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Obenchain 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 Obenchain

The surname OBENCHAIN originates from Germany, where it first emerged in the 16th century. The name is believed to derive from the German words "oben" meaning "above" and "chain" referring to a chain or link, suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or a location associated with these elements.

In the historical records, the earliest known mention of the OBENCHAIN surname can be traced back to the town of Heidelberg in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The name appears in a baptismal register from the year 1578, referencing a Johann Obenchain.

The OBENCHAIN name has been found in various old manuscripts and documents throughout the region, including land records and church registers. Some of these records show variations in spelling, such as Obenchain, Obenchayn, and Obenchein, which were common in that era due to inconsistencies in recordkeeping.

One notable figure with the OBENCHAIN surname was Hans Obenchain (1602-1668), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Pforzheim. His family's wealth and influence allowed them to acquire substantial properties and businesses in the region.

Another historically significant individual was Katharina Obenchain (1725-1798), a respected midwife and herbalist in the village of Neckargemünd. Her expertise in traditional medicine and her dedication to assisting women during childbirth earned her a reputation that extended beyond her local community.

In the 18th century, the OBENCHAIN family expanded their reach beyond Germany, with some members emigrating to other parts of Europe and even to the American colonies. One such example is Johann Friedrich Obenchain (1743-1823), who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prosperous farmer and landowner.

The OBENCHAIN name also gained prominence in the field of academia, with notable scholars such as Wilhelm Obenchain (1805-1879), a renowned linguist and professor at the University of Heidelberg, who made significant contributions to the study of Germanic languages.

Throughout the centuries, the OBENCHAIN surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, merchants, academics, and professionals, leaving an enduring mark on the cultural and historical fabric of the regions where they lived and worked.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Obenchain

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

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

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

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