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

Onstad, 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 Onstad surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onstad in America

Onstad is the 33810th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onstad surname appeared 673 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 Onstad.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onstad 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 Onstad

The surname Onstad originates from Norway, emerging in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Norse words "ǫn" meaning "meadow" and "staðr" meaning "place" or "farm." The name likely referred to a person who lived or worked on a farm located in a meadow area.

Onstad is believed to be one of the earliest recorded surnames in Norway, appearing in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian diplomas and documents dating back to the 12th century.

In the 15th century, the name Onstad appeared in the Copenhagen Census of 1487, which was a tax record compiled by Danish officials for the Norwegian territories under Danish rule at the time. This census provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the Onstad name during that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Onstad was Orm Onstad, a landowner and farmer who lived in the Gudbrandsdalen valley of Norway in the late 13th century. Records indicate that Orm Onstad was involved in a land dispute with a neighboring farmer, which was eventually resolved through mediation.

Another notable figure in the history of the Onstad name was Ingeborg Onstad, a prominent trader and businesswoman who lived in the coastal town of Bergen in the late 16th century. Ingeborg Onstad was known for her successful trading ventures, which involved importing goods from various parts of Europe and exporting Norwegian products such as fish and timber.

In the 17th century, the name Onstad was associated with the Onsøy farm, located in the Østfold region of Norway. The farm was owned by the Onstad family for several generations, and it is believed that the name Onsøy may have been derived from the family's surname.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Onstad made significant contributions to various fields, including literature, education, and politics. One such individual was Hans Christian Onstad (1734-1809), a Norwegian poet and playwright who wrote several popular plays and poems in his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Anna Onstad (1786-1867), an educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in Norway and played a crucial role in promoting education for women during a time when it was not widely accepted.

In the 20th century, the surname Onstad gained international recognition through the work of Sigurd Onstad (1907-1994), a Norwegian businessman and art collector. He amassed an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, which he later donated to establish the Onstad Sculpture Park and Museum in Bærum, Norway.

Overall, the surname Onstad has a rich history dating back to the medieval period in Norway. It reflects the country's linguistic and cultural heritage, as well as the lives and achievements of individuals who have carried this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onstad

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

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

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

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