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

Oden, 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 Oden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oden in America

Oden is the 4315th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oden surname appeared 8,240 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Oden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oden 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 Oden

The surname ODEN has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "odan," which meant "possessions" or "wealth." This suggests that the name may have originally been used to identify someone who owned significant property or resources.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with entries in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appeared as "Oden" and "Odene." During this time, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

In the 14th century, the surname ODEN appeared in various historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it was spelled as "Odyn." This record suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.

One notable figure bearing the name ODEN was John Oden, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 15th century. He was recorded as a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as an alderman from 1471 to 1494.

Another individual of note was William Oden, who lived in the 16th century and was appointed as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1553. This connection to Stratford-upon-Avon is particularly interesting, given the town's association with William Shakespeare.

In the 17th century, the name ODEN appeared in various parish records, such as those of St. Giles Cripplegate in London, where the marriage of Thomas Oden and Elizabeth Wilcox was recorded in 1638.

The name ODEN has also been linked to place names in England, such as Oden Hill in Buckinghamshire and Oden Meadow in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.

Other notable individuals with the surname ODEN include Sir Henry Oden (1666-1743), a British military officer who served in the War of the Spanish Succession, and Thomas Oden (1792-1879), a renowned English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes.

While the surname ODEN is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and its potential roots in Old English. The name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergymen, military officers, and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oden

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

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

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

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