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

Oeltjen, 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 Oeltjen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oeltjen in America

Oeltjen is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oeltjen surname appeared 319 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 Oeltjen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oeltjen 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 Oeltjen

The surname Oeltjen originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Low German word "olt," meaning "old," combined with the diminutive suffix "-jen." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an elderly person or someone with an advanced age.

One of the earliest known references to the Oeltjen surname can be found in the records of the city of Hamburg, where a certain Hans Oeltjen was documented as a merchant in the year 1587. This indicates that the name was already well-established in northern Germany during the late Renaissance period.

As the name Oeltjen spread across different regions of Germany, various spelling variations emerged, such as Öltjen, Öltgen, and Oeltchen. These alternate forms were likely influenced by local dialects and scribal conventions of the time.

Interestingly, the Oeltjen surname shares similarities with the Dutch surname "Oudeman," which also translates to "old man." This suggests a possible connection between the two names, although the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Oeltjen surname. One such person was Johann Oeltjen (1679-1745), a renowned Lutheran theologian and author who served as a minister in the city of Lübeck. Another prominent figure was Friedrich Oeltjen (1888-1955), a German politician and member of the Reichstag during the Weimar Republic.

In the realm of art, the painter and engraver Carl Oeltjen (1838-1909) gained recognition for his landscapes and genre scenes, many of which depicted rural life in northern Germany. His works can be found in various museums and private collections across Europe.

Beyond Germany, the Oeltjen surname also found its way to other parts of the world through immigration. One notable example is Peter Oeltjen (1866-1941), a German-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of San Diego, California.

Overall, the surname Oeltjen has a rich history rooted in the northern German region, with its origins dating back several centuries. While its precise meaning and derivation may be subject to debate, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural, religious, and social landscapes of their respective eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oeltjen

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

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

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

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