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

Oplinger, 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 Oplinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oplinger in America

Oplinger is the 32203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oplinger surname appeared 716 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 Oplinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oplinger 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 Oplinger

The surname Oplinger is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It likely derived from the Old High German word "opil," which meant "orchard" or "fruit garden." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in an orchard or fruit-growing area.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Oplinger can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention an individual named Hans Oplinger, who was a respected member of the local guild of fruit growers and orchard workers.

In the 15th century, the name Oplinger appears in various documents from the region of Franconia in northern Bavaria, Germany. This area was known for its fertile lands and thriving agricultural communities, which may have contributed to the prevalence of the surname in that region.

The earliest recorded spelling variations of the name include Opplinger, Opplenger, and Oppelinger. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

One notable figure in history with the surname Oplinger was Johann Oplinger, a German botanist and horticulturist who lived in the 17th century. He made significant contributions to the study of fruit trees and the cultivation of orchards, further solidifying the connection between the name and the field of fruit-growing.

Another individual of historical significance was Heinrich Oplinger, a renowned glass maker and artist who lived in the 18th century. His intricate glasswork and stained glass creations adorned many churches and noble residences throughout Germany and neighboring regions.

In the 19th century, the name Oplinger appeared in several military records, indicating that individuals with this surname served in various German armies and conflicts of that era. One such individual was Friedrich Oplinger, a Prussian officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

As the Oplinger family spread throughout Germany and beyond, the name also took root in other parts of Europe, particularly in the neighboring regions of Austria, Switzerland, and France.

One notable example is Auguste Oplinger, a French artist and sculptor who lived in the late 19th century and gained recognition for her intricate marble sculptures and busts.

While the surname Oplinger is not among the most common in modern times, its historical roots and connections to the agricultural and horticultural traditions of medieval and early modern Germany make it a fascinating and distinctive name with a rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oplinger

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

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

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

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