Obrist
A German occupational surname derived from the word "Obrist" meaning "colonel" or "superior officer".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Obrist. That puts it at #66,164 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Obrist surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#66,164
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
299
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 299 bearers of the surname Obrist in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 66164th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Obrist, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Obrist
The surname OBRIST originated in Switzerland and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "obrist," which means "highest" or "uppermost." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived in an elevated location or held a position of authority.
In the early 14th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts from the Swiss cantons of Bern and Zürich. For instance, a certain Henricus Obrist was mentioned in a document from the city of Bern in 1321.
The earliest recorded bearer of the name was likely Johann Obrist, who lived in the village of Rüschlikon, near Zürich, in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Hans Obrist, a Swiss mercenary captain who fought in the Italian Wars during the early 16th century.
Over the centuries, the name has been associated with several prominent individuals. One of the most famous was the Swiss Anabaptist leader Jakob Obrist (1518-1571), who played a significant role in the spread of the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland.
Another notable bearer of the name was Johann Obrist (1640-1701), a Swiss mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of comets and planetary orbits.
In the 19th century, the name gained recognition through the Swiss writer and philosopher Johann Caspar Obrist (1805-1874), who wrote extensively on ethical and philosophical topics.
More recently, the name has been associated with the Swiss art curator and critic Hans Ulrich Obrist (born 1968), who is known for his innovative approaches to curating and his work with contemporary artists.
Throughout its history, the surname OBRIST has undergone various spellings, such as Obrist, Obrist, and Obrest, reflecting regional variations and language changes over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the Swiss German-speaking regions, where it has maintained a strong presence for several centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Obrist
Among Census respondents with the surname Obrist, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Obrist bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Obrist surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.3%
- Two or more races3.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.3%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Obrist surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #64,385 | #66,164 | -2.8% |
| Count | 289 | 299 | 3.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.10 | -9.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Obrist bearers went from 289 to 299 (+3.5% change). The surname moved down 1,779 positions in the national ranking, going from #64,385 to #66,164.
FAQ
Obrist surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Obrist?
The surname Obrist holds position #66,164 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Obrist surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Obrist, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.