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

Olander, 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 Olander surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olander in America

Olander is the 12576th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olander surname appeared 2,462 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Olander.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olander 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 Olander

The surname Olander is of Swedish origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse words "olr" meaning "alder tree" and "andir" meaning "duck." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a location with alder trees and ducks, or perhaps someone who had a profession or association with these elements.

Historically, the name Olander has been most prevalent in the Swedish provinces of Västergötland and Småland, where it is thought to have originated. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Swedish parish records of Västergötland from the late 16th century, where a man named Olof Olander is mentioned.

In the 17th century, the name Olander appears in various Swedish church records and tax registers, indicating its continued use and presence in the country during this period. One notable example is the mention of a man named Lars Olander in the parish records of Småland from the year 1642.

As the Swedish language evolved over time, the name Olander also underwent slight spelling variations. In some historical records from the 18th and 19th centuries, it can be found spelled as "Olander," "Olander," or "Ohlander," reflecting regional linguistic differences and variations in record-keeping practices.

While not a particularly common surname, the name Olander has been carried by several notable individuals throughout history. One example is the Swedish military officer and cartographer Johan Olander (1661-1727), who served in the Life Guards and created important maps of Sweden during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was the Swedish botanist and professor Carl Olander (1798-1871), who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

In the realm of literature, the Swedish author and poet Sven Olander (1871-1942) gained recognition for his works depicting rural life in Sweden, including the novel "Bönder och märkesmän" (Farmers and Celebrities).

The name Olander has also been carried by individuals in other fields, such as the Swedish-American artist and illustrator Oscar Olander (1886-1961), known for his work in the early 20th century, and the Swedish engineer and inventor Carl Olander (1920-2006), who held numerous patents in the field of heating and ventilation systems.

While these examples provide a glimpse into the historical presence and notable bearers of the surname Olander, it is important to note that the name has been carried by countless individuals throughout the centuries, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its legacy and evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olander

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

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

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

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