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

Osswald, 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 Osswald surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osswald in America

Osswald is the 53538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osswald surname appeared 386 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 Osswald.

We can also compare 2010 data for Osswald 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 Osswald

The surname Osswald is of German origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German words "os," meaning "ox," and "wald," meaning "forest" or "woods." The name likely referred to an individual who lived in a wooded area and worked with oxen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Osswald can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony. In this text, dated around 1180, a certain "Ossewaldus" is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Niederau.

The surname Osswald appeared in various forms throughout the Middle Ages, with variations such as Osswalt, Osswalde, and Osswaldt being common. These differences in spelling were often due to regional dialects and the inconsistent use of written language during that time period.

In the 14th century, the name Osswald was associated with the town of Osswald (now called Osswalden) in the Swiss canton of Obwalden. This connection suggests that some Osswalds may have originated from this region and taken their name from the town's appellation.

Notable individuals with the surname Osswald throughout history include:

1. Johann Osswald (1470-1535), a German theologian and reformer who supported Martin Luther's Protestant movement.

2. Peter Osswald (1572-1628), a Swiss Protestant minister and author of religious texts.

3. Anna Maria Osswald (1620-1692), a German painter known for her still-life works.

4. Johann Friedrich Osswald (1717-1791), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

5. Carl Osswald (1828-1904), a German industrialist and founder of the Osswald Ironworks in Nuremberg.

Throughout the centuries, the name Osswald has retained its presence in German-speaking regions, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the surname has endured as a testament to its historical significance and cultural roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osswald

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

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

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

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