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

Oren, 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 Oren surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oren in America

Oren is the 16315th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oren surname appeared 1,766 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Oren.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oren 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 Oren

The surname Oren is of Hebrew origin, with its roots tracing back to ancient Israel. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "or," which means "light" or "illumination." It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Middle Ages, when Jewish communities were flourishing in various regions of Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Oren can be found in the Memorbuch, a medieval Jewish memorial book from the Rhineland region of Germany, dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions individuals bearing the name Oren, suggesting its usage during that period.

In the 14th century, the name Oren appeared in various Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in areas with significant Jewish populations, such as Spain and Italy. Records from this time indicate that the name was often associated with individuals involved in scholarly or religious pursuits, reflecting the meaning of "illumination" associated with the name.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Oren gained prominence in certain regions of Europe. Notable individuals bearing this name include Rabbi Yaakov Oren (1516-1588), a renowned scholar and kabbalist from Safed, in present-day Israel, who authored several influential works on Jewish mysticism.

As Jewish communities migrated and settled in different parts of the world, the surname Oren spread to various regions. In the 17th century, the name appeared in records from the Netherlands, where a merchant named Isaac Oren (1632-1698) established a successful trading company.

In the 19th century, the Oren surname gained recognition in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Russia. One prominent figure was Yehoshua Oren (1821-1897), a respected rabbi and scholar from Vilna, known for his extensive knowledge of Jewish law and traditions.

As Jewish communities continued to disperse globally, the surname Oren found its way to other parts of the world. In the early 20th century, a notable individual named Sarah Oren (1902-1985) emerged as a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate in British Mandate Palestine, later becoming part of the State of Israel.

Over the centuries, the surname Oren has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, religious leaders, merchants, and professionals. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Israel, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and has been embraced by Jewish communities worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oren

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

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

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

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