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

Okerson, 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 Okerson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okerson in America

Okerson is the 64891st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okerson surname appeared 306 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 Okerson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okerson 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 Okerson

The surname OKERSON has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "occa" and "hyrst", which together mean "oak wood" or "oak forest". This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or been associated with a wooded area dominated by oak trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Osbert de Ocherst is mentioned. This variation in spelling, "Ocherst", provides insight into how the name may have evolved over time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire as "Okerston", likely referring to a place name. This connection to places and regions further solidifies the name's association with geographic locations, particularly those characterized by oak forests.

Notable individuals bearing the OKERSON surname include:

1. Thomas Okerson (1602-1678), an English merchant and ship owner who played a significant role in the transatlantic trade between England and the American colonies.

2. Margaret Okerson (1715-1782), a prominent landowner and philanthropist in the county of Essex, known for her charitable contributions to local churches and schools.

3. John Okerson (1789-1856), a British explorer and naturalist who documented several previously undiscovered plant and animal species during his expeditions to South America.

4. William Okerson (1842-1912), a renowned architect who designed several landmark buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House.

5. Elizabeth Okerson (1876-1952), an influential writer and feminist activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and suffrage in the early 20th century.

While the OKERSON surname may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its roots can be traced back to the oak forests of medieval England, where the earliest bearers of the name likely resided or held connections.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okerson

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

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

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

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