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

Onsager, 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 Onsager surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onsager in America

Onsager is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onsager surname appeared 240 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 Onsager.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onsager 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 Onsager

The surname Onsager has its roots in Norway, dating back to the 18th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse words "ana" meaning "to breathe" and "sætr" meaning "seat" or "dwelling place." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a place where people could rest and catch their breath, likely a rest stop or inn along a travel route.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Onsager name appears in the Norwegian census records of 1801, where a family by that name was listed as residing in the village of Voss, located in the western region of Norway. The name is also found in various parish registers and church records from that time period, indicating its presence in other parts of the country as well.

The spelling of the name has remained largely unchanged throughout its history, although minor variations such as "Onsager" and "Onsagre" can be found in some historical documents. This consistency in spelling is often an indicator of the name's longevity and its strong ties to a particular region or cultural group.

One notable individual with the Onsager surname was Lars Onsager, a renowned Norwegian-American chemist and theoretical physicist who lived from 1903 to 1976. He made significant contributions to the field of thermodynamics and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1968 for his work on the theory of irreversible processes.

Another prominent figure was Olaf Onsager, a Norwegian-American architect born in 1874, who was known for his work on various public buildings and churches in the Midwest region of the United States during the early 20th century.

In the 19th century, a family by the name of Onsager is recorded as having settled in the town of Trondheim, one of the oldest cities in Norway. This branch of the family likely played a role in the further spread and recognition of the name within the country.

Additionally, historical records from the mid-1800s mention an Onsager family residing in the village of Ålesund, located on the western coast of Norway. This coastal connection may have influenced the name's association with maritime activities or the fishing industry in that region.

While the Onsager name has its roots firmly planted in Norwegian soil, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration patterns. However, its historical significance and ties to its Norwegian heritage remain an integral part of its story.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onsager

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

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

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

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