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

Oelfke, 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 Oelfke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oelfke in America

Oelfke is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oelfke surname appeared 300 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 Oelfke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oelfke 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 Oelfke

The surname Oelfke is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is a locational surname, derived from the German village of Ölfe, located in the state of Lower Saxony. The name is believed to have originated from the Old German words "oll" and "fah," meaning "all" and "land" or "field," respectively, suggesting a connection to a particular agricultural area or landholding.

One of the earliest known references to the name Oelfke can be found in the "Werdener Urkundenbuch," a collection of medieval documents from the city of Werden, dating back to the 13th century. This record mentions a certain "Henricus de Olfe," indicating the presence of individuals bearing the name in the region during that period.

In the 15th century, the name Oelfke appears in the "Schatzungsregister" (tax registers) of the city of Lübeck, a prominent Hanseatic trading center in northern Germany. This suggests that individuals with this surname had established themselves in urban areas and were involved in various trades or professions.

Notable individuals with the surname Oelfke include Johann Oelfke (1648-1720), a German Protestant theologian and author who served as a pastor in the city of Hamburg. Another notable figure was Hans Oelfke (1891-1967), a German architect and urban planner who contributed to the reconstruction efforts in various German cities after World War II.

In the 18th century, the Oelfke family had a presence in the region of Westphalia, as evidenced by records from the town of Minden. A certain Friedrich Oelfke (1725-1789) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area, whose descendants continued to play an influential role in the local economy and society.

Another noteworthy individual was Carl Oelfke (1862-1932), a German painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life. His works were exhibited in various galleries across Germany and gained recognition during his lifetime.

While the surname Oelfke may have undergone minor variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Ölffke or Oelffke, it has maintained its distinct character and connection to its Germanic roots. The name's association with a specific geographic location and its historical presence in various regions of Germany contribute to its rich genealogical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oelfke

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

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

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

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