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

Olinger, 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 Olinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olinger in America

Olinger is the 5998th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olinger surname appeared 5,732 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Olinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olinger 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 Olinger

The surname Olinger is of German origin, and it first emerged in the 12th century in the region of Bavaria. The name is derived from the Old High German word "olbinga," which means "elk." It is believed that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a place where elks were found or to someone who hunted elks.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Olinger can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the medieval Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. In this document, a person named "Henricus Olinger" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction.

The Olinger family is believed to have originated from the town of Ollingerberg, located in the Bavarian region of Germany. The town's name is derived from the surname, suggesting that the Olinger family may have played a significant role in the establishment or ownership of the town.

During the 16th century, the Olinger family gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where several members were involved in the trading and crafting industries. One notable figure from this time was Hans Olinger (1501-1567), a renowned goldsmith and jeweler who created intricate works of art for nobility and wealthy patrons.

In the 17th century, the Olinger name spread across Europe as many families migrated to other regions. Johann Olinger (1625-1698), a German theologian and philosopher, was a prominent figure during this period. He taught at several universities and published numerous works on religious and philosophical topics.

As the Olinger family continued to expand, some members achieved notable accomplishments in various fields. For example, Friedrich Olinger (1786-1856) was a German painter and engraver who specialized in landscapes and religious scenes. His works were widely exhibited and praised during his lifetime.

Another noteworthy individual with the Olinger surname was Marie Olinger (1892-1968), a French novelist and playwright. She was known for her works that explored themes of love, family, and societal issues. Her novel "Le Coeur et l'ombre" (The Heart and the Shadow) received critical acclaim and established her reputation as a prominent writer of her time.

While the Olinger surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, where it is still found today. The name has evolved over time, with variations such as Ollinger, Ohlinger, and Oellinger, reflecting regional and linguistic influences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olinger

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!