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

Oppliger, 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 Oppliger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oppliger in America

Oppliger is the 60347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oppliger surname appeared 334 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 Oppliger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oppliger 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 Oppliger

The surname Oppliger is of German-Swiss origin, originating in the 16th century from the region of Switzerland and southern Germany. Its roots can be traced back to the old German words "oppe" meaning "over" or "above," and "licher" meaning "dweller" or "resident." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or on the upper part of a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Oppliger name appears in a Swiss census record from 1548, where a Hans Oppliger is listed as a resident of the town of Zug. In the 17th century, the name appears in various church records and municipal documents across Switzerland and the surrounding German regions.

A notable early bearer of the Oppliger name was Johann Oppliger, a Swiss Protestant pastor and theologian who lived from 1594 to 1668. He served as the minister of the Reformed Church in the town of Schaffhausen and wrote several influential theological works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Oppliger name spread across Europe as families migrated and settled in new areas. One prominent figure was Karl Oppliger, a German-born painter and engraver who lived from 1767 to 1836. He was known for his intricate etchings and engravings depicting landscapes and architectural scenes.

The 19th century saw the Oppliger name established in various parts of the world, including America. In 1842, a Swiss immigrant named Jakob Oppliger settled in the town of Chilton, Wisconsin, and became a successful farmer and landowner. His descendants continued to carry the name forward in the United States.

Another notable individual was Erwin Oppliger, a Swiss-born engineer and inventor who lived from 1873 to 1952. He is credited with developing several innovations in the field of textile machinery, including a revolutionary spinning frame that improved the efficiency of yarn production.

As the Oppliger name spread globally, it also became associated with different areas and local variations in spelling. For example, in parts of France, the name was sometimes spelled as "Opliger," while in some regions of Germany, it appeared as "Oppleger."

Throughout history, the Oppliger surname has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, ranging from religious leaders and artists to farmers and inventors. Its origins can be traced back to the German-Swiss regions of Europe, where it emerged as a descriptor for those residing in the upper parts of settlements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oppliger

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!