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

Oister, 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 Oister surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oister in America

Oister is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oister surname appeared 141 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 Oister.

The history of the last name Oister

The surname Oister has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "oistre," which referred to an oyster or oyster fisherman. This suggests that the name initially referred to individuals who worked as oyster fishermen or lived near areas known for oyster harvesting.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a William Oistere is mentioned as residing in Oxfordshire. Another early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which lists a John Oyster among the taxpayers of that county.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Oystre, Oistre, and Oistere. These variations likely reflected regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, which were records of taxes and fines paid to the Crown. The entry from 1572 mentions a Thomas Oister as a landowner in the county.

One notable individual with the surname Oister was Sir John Oister (1588-1657), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of King Charles I. He played a role in the English Civil War by providing financial support to the Parliamentarian cause.

Another figure of historical significance was William Oister (1620-1685), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of St. Olave's Church in London. He wrote several religious tracts and sermons that were widely circulated in his time.

In the 18th century, the name can be found in the parish records of various English counties, such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. One notable individual from this era was Sarah Oister (1745-1812), a philanthropist and social reformer who established several schools for underprivileged children in London.

The 19th century saw the rise of a prominent Oister family in the county of Dorset. Thomas Oister (1792-1867) was a successful farmer and landowner who played an active role in local politics, serving as a magistrate and county councillor.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Oister (1835-1912), a British naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Crimean War.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oister

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

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

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

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