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

Oistad, 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 Oistad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oistad in America

Oistad is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oistad surname appeared 162 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 Oistad.

The history of the last name Oistad

The surname Oistad originates from Norway, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "œy," meaning "island," and "stadr," meaning "place" or "homestead." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have lived on an island or near the coast.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian medieval documents dating back to the early 13th century. In this compilation, a person named Oistein Oistad is mentioned in a legal document from the year 1291.

The name Oistad has also been found in various Norse sagas and medieval manuscripts, indicating its presence in the region during those times. For instance, the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative of the Norse earls of Orkney, mentions an individual named Thorir Oistad, who lived in the late 12th century.

In the 14th century, records show a family named Oistad residing in the Nordfjord region of western Norway. This area, known for its picturesque fjords and islands, aligns with the name's possible origins related to coastal settlements.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sigurd Oistad, a Norwegian farmer and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. Historical documents mention his involvement in local disputes over land ownership and grazing rights.

During the 16th century, the name Oistad appeared in various church records and census documents across Norway. Notable individuals from this period include Ingrid Oistad, a respected midwife who practiced in the Trondheim area in the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Nils Oistad, a Norwegian sea captain and explorer. Nils Oistad is credited with leading several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing to the mapping and exploration of these remote areas.

Another prominent figure with the surname Oistad was Hans Oistad, a Norwegian historian and scholar born in 1712. Hans Oistad's writings on the history and culture of Norway were widely regarded and influenced future generations of scholars.

As the centuries progressed, the Oistad name continued to be found across Norway, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions and pursuing diverse professions, from farming and fishing to academia and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oistad

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

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 Oistad 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.

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

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

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