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

Oberheim, 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 Oberheim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oberheim in America

Oberheim is the 83226th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oberheim surname appeared 226 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 Oberheim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oberheim 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 Oberheim

The surname Oberheim is of German origin, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Oberheim, which translates to "upper homestead" or "upper village" in German. The name likely originated in the southern regions of Germany, where many small villages and hamlets bore similar toponymic names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Oberheim can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents dating back to the 11th century. In this record, a certain "Heinricus de Oberheim" is mentioned, suggesting that the name was already in use during that period.

In the 13th century, the surname Oberheim appeared in the Annales Colonienses, a chronicle detailing the history of the city of Cologne. This document mentions a "Johannes Oberheim," who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the Oberheim family gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg. Hans Oberheim (1495-1573) was a renowned goldsmith and sculptor, whose intricate works were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy patrons of the time.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Oberheim family settled in the German state of Saxony. Johann Gottfried Oberheim (1637-1714) was a respected theologian and author, who published several influential works on religious philosophy.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Oberheim gained recognition in the field of music. Johann Friedrich Oberheim (1744-1810) was a composer and organist, known for his contributions to the development of the classical style.

As the centuries passed, the Oberheim surname spread across various regions of Germany and beyond. Notable individuals bearing this name include Friedrich Oberheim (1884-1962), a German architect known for his innovative designs, and Tom Oberheim (born 1936), an American pioneer in the development of electronic music synthesizers.

While these examples highlight the historical significance of the Oberheim surname, it is important to note that the name has likely been borne by countless individuals throughout the ages, each contributing to the rich tapestry of human history in their own unique way.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oberheim

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

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

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

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