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

Ophus, 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 Ophus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ophus in America

Ophus is the 81458th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ophus surname appeared 232 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 Ophus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ophus 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 Ophus

The surname Ophus has its origins in Norway, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "óp," meaning "inlet" or "cove," and "hús," meaning "house" or "dwelling." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a coastal inlet or cove.

One of the earliest references to the name Ophus can be found in the historical records of the Lofoten Islands, a region known for its fishing villages and scenic landscapes. In a local census from the year 1596, a man named Bjørn Ophus is listed as a resident of the village of Henningsvær.

In the 17th century, the name began to appear in various parts of western Norway, particularly in the regions of Møre og Romsdal and Hordaland. It is possible that the name spread as families migrated or relocated within the country.

During the 19th century, several notable individuals bearing the surname Ophus emerged. One such person was Hans Ophus (1815-1892), a Norwegian shipbuilder and businessman from the town of Florø. Another was Olav Ophus (1849-1923), a respected teacher and headmaster who worked in several schools across western Norway.

In the early 20th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Haakon Ophus (1902-1987), a Norwegian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. He held positions at various universities, including the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen.

Another prominent figure with the surname Ophus was Ingrid Ophus (1912-2004), a Norwegian writer and poet. She published several collections of poetry and was recognized for her lyrical and introspective works.

It is worth noting that variations of the name, such as Ophussi and Ophussen, have also been documented in historical records, suggesting potential connections to other Scandinavian countries or regions.

While the surname Ophus is not among the most common in Norway today, it continues to hold a place in the country's cultural and historical tapestry, reflecting the maritime and coastal heritage of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ophus

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

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

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

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