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

Oprean, 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 Oprean surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oprean in America

Oprean is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oprean surname appeared 101 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 Oprean.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oprean 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 Oprean

The surname Oprean is believed to have originated in Romania, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Romanian word "oprea," which means "to stop" or "to halt." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who held a position of authority, such as a gate keeper or a toll collector, whose responsibility was to stop and inspect travelers or goods.

The earliest recorded instances of the Oprean surname can be found in historical documents from the regions of Transylvania and Moldavia, where it was commonly used among Romanian families. One of the first known mentions of the name appears in a land registry from the town of Brasov, dated 1587.

In the 17th century, the Oprean name gained prominence when a prominent Romanian noble, Ioan Oprean, played a significant role in the resistance against the Habsburg Empire's attempts to impose Catholicism in Transylvania. His bravery and leadership during this period earned him a place in Romanian history books.

Another notable figure bearing the Oprean surname was Gheorghe Oprean, a 19th-century scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of the Romanian language. Born in 1819 in the village of Comana, he published several works on Romanian grammar and lexicography, helping to standardize the language and preserve its rich cultural heritage.

During the 20th century, the Oprean name was carried by several individuals who left their mark in various fields. One such person was Mihai Oprean, a renowned painter and sculptor who lived from 1895 to 1967. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural Romanian life, are celebrated for their vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes.

Another prominent Oprean was Alexandru Oprean, a military officer who served in World War II and later became a respected historian and author. His books on Romanian military history, such as "The Romanian Army in World War II" (published in 1976), are considered invaluable resources for scholars and researchers.

While the Oprean surname is most commonly associated with Romania, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Today, individuals bearing this name can be found in various countries, carrying on the legacy of their Romanian heritage and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural diversity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oprean

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

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

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

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