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

Oelkers, 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 Oelkers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oelkers in America

Oelkers is the 36525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oelkers surname appeared 612 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 Oelkers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oelkers 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 Oelkers

The surname OELKERS is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the German word "Oelke," which means an olive tree or olive grove. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Germany, where the name was likely adopted by individuals who lived near or worked in areas known for olive cultivation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name OELKERS can be found in the Lüneburg Salt Books, a collection of records from the 14th century documenting the salt trade in the region. These records show several individuals with variations of the name, such as Olkers and Olker, suggesting that the name had already established itself in the area.

In the 16th century, the name OELKERS appeared in various church records and municipal documents throughout northern Germany. This included towns such as Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen, where the name was prominent among merchants and tradespeople.

One notable figure bearing the OELKERS surname was Johann Oelkers, a German astronomer and mathematician born in 1573 in the town of Lüneburg. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and published several works on astronomy during his lifetime.

Another historical figure of note was Margarethe Oelkers, born in 1652 in Hanover. She was a prominent figure in the local community and was known for her charitable work, establishing a fund to support education for underprivileged children.

In the 18th century, the OELKERS name spread beyond northern Germany to other regions of the country. This was likely due to the migration of individuals seeking new economic opportunities or fleeing religious persecution.

One example of this is Friedrich Oelkers, born in 1712 in the town of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia), who established a successful trading company that dealt in various goods, including olive oil and other agricultural products.

As the OELKERS name continued to spread, it also found its way into various artistic and cultural circles. In the 19th century, Karl Oelkers (1825-1892) was a notable German painter and sculptor, renowned for his landscapes and portraiture.

Another individual of note was Marie Oelkers (1835-1908), a German author and poet who wrote extensively on themes of nature and spirituality, publishing several collections of her works during her lifetime.

Throughout its history, the OELKERS surname has maintained a strong presence in Germany, with individuals bearing the name continuing to contribute to various fields and endeavors. While its origins may be rooted in the olive trade and agriculture, the name has come to represent a rich tapestry of German culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oelkers

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

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

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

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