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

Oftedahl, 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 Oftedahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oftedahl in America

Oftedahl is the 48160th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oftedahl surname appeared 439 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 Oftedahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oftedahl 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 Oftedahl

The surname Oftedahl is of Norwegian origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse words "opt" meaning "often" and "dal" meaning "valley" or "dale". This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived in a valley that was frequently visited or inhabited.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents and charters. In a document dated 1298, a man named Thorstein Oftedahl is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction in the region of Vestfold, located in southeastern Norway.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name Oftedahl appeared in various records and manuscripts across Norway, particularly in the regions of Vestfold, Oppland, and Telemark. It was often associated with families who owned or worked on farms located in valleys or dales.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Oftedahl was Inge Oftedahl, born in 1548 in the village of Ådal, Telemark. He was a respected farmer and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

Another prominent individual was Sigrid Oftedahl, born in 1612 in Vestfold. She was a skilled weaver and textile artist, whose works were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.

In the 18th century, a man named Nils Oftedahl, born in 1742 in Oppland, gained recognition as a talented woodcarver. His intricate carvings adorned many churches and buildings throughout the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name outside of Norway can be found in the archives of the Netherlands. In 1678, a man named Jens Oftedahl is listed as a merchant who traded goods between Amsterdam and the Norwegian ports.

During the 19th century, the name Oftedahl became more widespread as Norwegian immigrants began settling in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States and Canada. One notable figure from this era was Lars Oftedahl, born in 1829 in Telemark. He was a skilled carpenter and shipbuilder who immigrated to America in 1856, settling in Wisconsin.

Throughout its history, the surname Oftedahl has been closely tied to its Norwegian roots, originating from the geographic feature of living in a valley or dale. While the name has spread to various parts of the world, its connection to the rugged landscapes and proud traditions of Norway remains strong.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oftedahl

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

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

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

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