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

Okerstrom, 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 Okerstrom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okerstrom in America

Okerstrom is the 64388th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okerstrom surname appeared 309 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 Okerstrom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okerstrom 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 Okerstrom

The surname OKERSTROM is of Swedish origin, originating in the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Swedish words "åker" meaning "field" and "ström" meaning "stream," likely referring to a location or a person who lived near a stream flowing through a field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OKERSTROM can be found in the parish records of Skåne, a province in southern Sweden, dating back to the early 17th century. It is possible that the name was initially a place name or descriptive name before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 18th century, the OKERSTROM name appeared in various records and documents in central Sweden, particularly in the regions around Uppsala and Södermanland. This suggests that the name may have spread from its southern origins to other parts of the country.

One notable individual bearing the OKERSTROM surname was Johan Okerstrom (1778-1843), a Swedish painter and etcher known for his landscapes and architectural works. He was born in Stockholm and studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.

Another historical figure with the surname OKERSTROM was Karin Okerstrom (1892-1978), a Swedish author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories. She was born in Östergötland and her works often explored themes of family life and societal issues.

In the late 19th century, records show the OKERSTROM name appearing in the United States, likely due to Swedish immigration. One such individual was Carl Okerstrom (1857-1932), a Swedish-American businessman and philanthropist who settled in Minnesota and founded the Okerstrom Lumber Company.

The name OKERSTROM can also be found in historical records from Finland, where it was likely adopted by Swedish-speaking Finns. One example is Karin Okerstrom (1910-1995), a Finnish writer and translator who was born in Helsinki and wrote works in both Swedish and Finnish.

Another notable bearer of the OKERSTROM surname was Erik Okerstrom (1926-2007), a Swedish-American artist and sculptor who was born in Stockholm but spent most of his career in the United States. His works were known for their abstract and geometric forms and were featured in several exhibitions and collections.

While the OKERSTROM surname may not be as common as some other Swedish names, its historical roots and the individuals who have carried it throughout the centuries contribute to the rich tapestry of Swedish cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okerstrom

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

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

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

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