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

Olteanu, 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 Olteanu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olteanu in America

Olteanu is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olteanu surname appeared 143 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 Olteanu.

The history of the last name Olteanu

The surname Olteanu originates from Romania, specifically from the region of Oltenia, located in the southwestern part of the country. Its roots can be traced back to the 15th century, when it was derived from the old Romanian word "Olteanu," meaning "a person from Oltenia."

Historically, the name Olteanu was first documented in various medieval records and manuscripts from the region of Oltenia. One of the earliest known references appears in a land ownership document dated 1492, where a certain Ion Olteanu was mentioned as a landowner in the village of Slatina.

The name Olteanu has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most prominent was Mihai Olteanu (1492-1564), a Romanian nobleman and military leader who played a crucial role in defending the region against Ottoman invasions. Another notable bearer of the name was Alexandru Olteanu (1678-1742), a renowned scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, the Olteanu family produced several influential figures, including Gheorghe Olteanu (1716-1789), a prominent merchant and philanthropist, and his son, Iancu Olteanu (1754-1832), who served as a high-ranking official in the local administration.

During the 19th century, the name Olteanu gained further prominence with individuals such as Ion Olteanu (1839-1909), a celebrated poet and writer whose works were deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of Oltenia. Another notable bearer was Ecaterina Olteanu (1876-1958), a pioneering educator who established several schools in the region and advocated for women's education.

As the centuries passed, the name Olteanu continued to be prevalent in various parts of Romania, particularly in the region of Oltenia and its surrounding areas. Many individuals with this surname have contributed to various fields, including politics, literature, arts, and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olteanu

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

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 Olteanu 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.

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

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

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