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

Oberg, 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 Oberg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oberg in America

Oberg is the 6179th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oberg surname appeared 5,537 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Oberg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oberg 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 Oberg

The surname Oberg originates from Sweden and is derived from the Old Norse word "øy" meaning "island" and "berg" meaning "mountain" or "rocky hill." The name likely originated in areas of Sweden where settlements were established near islands or mountainous regions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Oberg can be traced back to the late 16th century in Swedish parish records. Some variations of the spelling include Öberg, Öhberg, and Ööberg. During this time, many Swedes adopted surnames based on their place of residence or distinctive geographical features near their homes.

In the 17th century, the name Oberg appeared in the Swedish Census Book of 1666, which was a comprehensive record of the population at the time. This suggests that the name had become well-established by that point.

One notable historical figure with the surname Oberg was Johan Oberg (1689-1767), a Swedish clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Lund from 1747 until his death. He was known for his theological writings and contributions to the Church of Sweden.

Another significant individual was Carl Oberg (1833-1897), a Swedish-American entrepreneur and inventor. He founded the Oberg & Sons Company, which became a leading manufacturer of precision tools and machinery in the United States.

In the late 19th century, Nils Oberg (1874-1962) was a prominent Swedish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Stockholm, including the Stockholm City Hall and the Stockholm Public Library.

The name Oberg also has a connection to the Swedish military. Hans Oberg (1901-1980) was a Swedish Army officer who served as the Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces from 1958 to 1965, playing a crucial role in Sweden's defense during the Cold War era.

Lastly, Ingrid Oberg (1924-2019) was a Swedish author and journalist known for her children's literature and her work as a war correspondent during World War II. Her books and articles provided insightful perspectives on the war and its impact on civilians.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oberg

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

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

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

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