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

Oilar, 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 Oilar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oilar in America

Oilar is the 72771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oilar surname appeared 267 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 Oilar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oilar 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 Oilar

The surname OILAR is believed to have its origins in the Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway and Sweden. It is likely derived from the Old Norse word "oill," meaning "oil" or "to anoint with oil." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the production or trade of oil during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OILAR can be traced back to the late 13th century, where it appears in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian diplomatic documents and charters. In these records, there are references to individuals with the surname OILAR residing in the coastal regions of Norway, potentially indicating their involvement in fishing or maritime activities.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, variations of the name, such as "Oillar" and "Oyllar," can be found in Swedish parish records and tax rolls. These documents often list individuals with occupational surnames, suggesting that the OILAR name may have been associated with those engaged in the production or trading of oil or related products.

One notable individual with the surname OILAR was Olav Oilar, a Norwegian merchant who lived in the late 16th century. According to historical records, he was involved in the lucrative trade of fish oil and maintained business ties with merchants in the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial alliance in Northern Europe.

In the 17th century, the name OILAR gained prominence in Denmark, where records show the existence of a family with this surname in the city of Copenhagen. One member of this family, Hans Oilar (1628-1692), was a respected shipbuilder and naval architect who designed several vessels for the Danish fleet.

Another individual of significance was Ingrid Oilar (1746-1823), a Swedish herbalist and midwife renowned for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional remedies. Her work contributed to the preservation of folk medicine practices in the region.

As the centuries progressed, the OILAR surname spread across Scandinavia and beyond, with bearers of the name dispersing to various parts of Europe and eventually to other continents through migration and exploration. Despite its widespread dispersion, the name retained its connection to its Scandinavian roots and the historical associations with the oil trade and related industries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oilar

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

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

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

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