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

Olshefski, 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 Olshefski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olshefski in America

Olshefski is the 48530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olshefski surname appeared 435 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 Olshefski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olshefski 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 Olshefski

The surname Olshefski has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the regions that are now part of modern-day Poland and Belarus. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely between the 13th and 15th centuries.

The name Olshefski is thought to be derived from the Slavic root words "olsha" and "olszyna," which refer to the alder tree. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near an alder grove or worked with alder wood. Variations in spelling, such as Olshewski, Olshevski, or Olszewski, may have arisen due to regional dialects and differences in record-keeping practices.

While there are no definitive historical references to the name Olshefski in major manuscripts or chronicles from that period, it is possible that the name appeared in local parish records or land registries. Unfortunately, many of these documents were lost or destroyed over the centuries due to wars, natural disasters, and other calamities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Olshefski can be found in the 16th century, when a man named Jakub Olshefski was mentioned in a legal document from the town of Białystok, located in what is now northeastern Poland. This document, dated around 1580, suggests that the Olshefski family had already established a presence in the region by that time.

Another notable figure bearing the Olshefski name was Jan Olshefski, a Polish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 17th century. He is believed to have been born around 1620 and served as a cavalry officer in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's army during the Khmelnytsky Uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the 19th century, a prominent Olshefski was Stanisław Olshefski, a Polish writer and journalist who was born in 1842 and died in 1910. He was known for his works on Polish history and culture, as well as his contributions to various literary journals and newspapers.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Olshefski name also appeared in the United States, likely due to immigration from Eastern Europe. One example is Joseph Olshefski, who was born in Poland in 1867 and later emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City.

Another notable American with the Olshefski surname was Stanley Olshefski, a renowned architect who was born in 1920 and passed away in 2007. He was known for his innovative designs and contributions to the field of modern architecture, particularly in the state of California.

While the Olshefski name is not as common as some other surnames, it has left its mark on various aspects of history, from military service and literature to architecture and immigration. Its roots can be traced back to the alder groves of Eastern Europe, where it first emerged as a way to identify and distinguish families and individuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olshefski

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

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

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

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