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

Oberlander, 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 Oberlander surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oberlander in America

Oberlander is the 13786th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oberlander surname appeared 2,194 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 Oberlander.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oberlander 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 Oberlander

The surname Oberlander is of German origin, originating in the regions of southern Germany and Switzerland during the medieval period. It is derived from the German words "ober" meaning "upper" and "land" meaning "land" or "region," indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived in an elevated or upland area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Oberländer, Oberlender, and Oberlender. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Heinrich Oberlander, a landowner in the Swabian region of southern Germany, mentioned in records dating back to 1274.

In the late 15th century, the name appeared in various historical documents, including the Nuremberg Chronicle, a famous illustrated world history published in 1493. This suggests that the Oberlander family had gained prominence and recognition during this period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name continued to spread throughout different parts of Germany and Switzerland. Notable individuals with the surname include Johannes Oberlander (1498-1569), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation, and Hans Oberlander (1641-1706), a Swiss painter renowned for his religious and portrait works.

In the 18th century, the Oberlander name was found in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. One prominent figure was Johann Oberlander (1720-1798), a German composer and organist who contributed to the development of church music during the Baroque period.

As the name spread across Europe, it also made its way to other countries through migration and immigration. For instance, in the 19th century, several individuals with the surname Oberlander can be found in records from the United States, likely descendants of German and Swiss immigrants.

Throughout history, the Oberlander name has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from landowners and artists to religious figures and composers. While the spelling may have varied slightly over time, the name's essence and connection to its German roots have remained intact.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oberlander

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

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

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

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