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

Oberlies, 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 Oberlies surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oberlies in America

Oberlies is the 71478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oberlies surname appeared 273 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 Oberlies.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oberlies 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 Oberlies

The surname Oberlies originated in Germany, with its earliest known recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the German words "ober," meaning "upper," and "lies," referring to a meadow or low-lying area of land. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in an upper meadow or higher-lying area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Oberlies name can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Oberdreis, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. These records, which date back to the late 1500s, mention several individuals bearing the Oberlies surname.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical documents from the nearby cities of Koblenz and Trier, further solidifying its presence in the Rhineland region. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Oberlyes" or "Oberliess," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in those times.

One notable figure bearing the Oberlies surname was Johann Oberlies (1689-1763), a German theologian and philosopher who authored several influential works on religious teachings and moral philosophy. He served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg and was widely respected for his academic contributions.

In the late 18th century, a man named Hans Oberlies (1745-1825) gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and woodcarver in the town of Boppard, located along the Rhine River. His intricate woodcarvings adorned many local churches and buildings, and his work was highly sought after throughout the region.

Another notable individual with the Oberlies surname was Katharina Oberlies (1801-1879), a prominent figure in the German women's rights movement of the 19th century. She was an outspoken advocate for educational opportunities for women and played a significant role in establishing several schools and educational institutions in her native Rhineland-Palatinate region.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Oberlies surname spread beyond Germany as many individuals immigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. However, its roots can be traced back to the fertile meadows and hill regions of the Rhineland, where the name first emerged and gained prominence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oberlies

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

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

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

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