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

Oberstein, 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 Oberstein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oberstein in America

Oberstein is the 101247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oberstein surname appeared 178 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 Oberstein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oberstein 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 Oberstein

The surname Oberstein is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "ober" meaning "upper" and "stein" meaning "stone," likely referring to a place name or a geographic feature such as a town or region located near an elevated rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oberstein can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the former Principality of Anhalt, dated to the early 13th century. The name is also mentioned in various medieval records and charters from regions across present-day Germany, particularly in the central and western parts of the country.

The Oberstein surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known figures was Johann Oberstein, a 16th-century Protestant theologian and reformer from Saxony (c. 1505-1573). Another prominent bearer of the name was Hans Oberstein, a German goldsmith and engraver active in the late 16th century, renowned for his intricate metalwork and decorative arts.

In the 18th century, Johann Heinrich Oberstein (1735-1803) was a prominent German geologist and mineralogist, known for his contributions to the study of gemstones and the development of the modern science of mineralogy. His work on the classification and identification of minerals was influential in his time and beyond.

During the 19th century, the Oberstein surname gained further recognition through the works of Adolph Oberstein (1846-1923), a German-American businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Oberstein & Co. banking and investment firm in New York City and was actively involved in various charitable endeavors.

Another notable figure was Carl Oberstein (1871-1956), a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction and development of several cities in Germany after World War II. His designs and urban planning concepts were influential in shaping the modern architectural landscape of many German cities.

The surname Oberstein has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany, such as Idar-Oberstein, a town in Rhineland-Palatinate known for its gemstone industry and mining history. Additionally, variations of the name, such as Obersteinbach and Obersteinhausen, can be found in different regions, reflecting the geographic origins and migrations of families bearing this surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oberstein

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

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

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

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