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

Opheim, 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 Opheim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opheim in America

Opheim is the 29422nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opheim surname appeared 803 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 Opheim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opheim 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 Opheim

The surname Opheim originated in Norway during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Norse words "upp" meaning "up" and "heimr" meaning "homestead" or "farm". The name likely referred to a farm or settlement located at a higher elevation.

Opheim is a locational surname, indicating that the original bearers hailed from a place called Opheim. There were several villages and farms with this name in various parts of Norway, such as Opheim in Rogaland, Opheim in Møre og Romsdal, and Opheim in Trøndelag.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Opheim dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents. In 1268, a man named Ivar Opheim is mentioned as a witness in a land transaction.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Opheim was Olav Opheim (1488-1554), a Norwegian farmer and landowner who played a significant role in the Norwegian Reformation. He was a supporter of the Lutheran movement and helped spread Protestant teachings in his region.

Another prominent figure was Ingrid Opheim (1615-1692), a Norwegian herbalist and midwife who gained widespread recognition for her knowledge of traditional medicine. She was often consulted by people from all walks of life, and her remedies were highly sought after.

In the 18th century, Hans Opheim (1736-1814) was a respected navigator and sea captain who undertook numerous voyages to Greenland and the Arctic regions. His detailed logs and maps contributed to the advancement of maritime exploration and cartography.

Ivar Opheim (1854-1932) was a Norwegian painter and illustrator best known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. His works showcased the beauty of the Norwegian countryside and helped preserve the cultural heritage of the region.

During the 20th century, Kari Opheim (1912-1998) was a prominent Norwegian politician and activist who advocated for women's rights and gender equality. She served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament and played a pivotal role in shaping policies related to women's issues.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opheim

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

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

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

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