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

Oest, 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 Oest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oest in America

Oest is the 65782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oest surname appeared 301 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 Oest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oest 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 Oest

The surname OEST is of German origin, traced back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "ost," meaning "east." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in the eastern part of a particular region or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OEST surname can be found in the church records of the town of Bamberg, located in the northern Bavarian region of Germany, dating back to the late 1500s. It is likely that the name originated in this area and later spread to other parts of Germany and neighboring countries.

In the 17th century, the OEST name appeared in various official documents and records across central and southern Germany, including the city of Nuremberg, which was a prominent center of trade and commerce during that time. This suggests that individuals bearing the OEST surname may have been involved in mercantile or entrepreneurial activities.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the OEST name gained prominence in various fields. Notable individuals included Johann Baptist Oest (1735-1810), a German composer and organist from the town of Altötting in Bavaria. His musical contributions to the church and the local community were widely recognized during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Oest (1809-1875), a German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and advocated for liberal reforms. His political activism and legal expertise made him a prominent figure in the mid-19th century.

In the realm of literature, the name OEST is associated with the German author and poet, Franz Oest (1845-1921). Born in the town of Kitzingen, he gained recognition for his lyrical works and contributions to the local literary scene in Bavaria.

As the 20th century dawned, the OEST surname continued to be represented in various fields. One notable individual was Karl Oest (1890-1966), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Munich, including the famous Münchner Freiheit residential complex.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the OEST surname who have made significant contributions throughout history. While the name originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by generations of OEST families who sought new opportunities and horizons.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oest

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

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

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

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