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

Oster, 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 Oster surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oster in America

Oster is the 5554th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oster surname appeared 6,259 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Oster.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oster 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 Oster

The surname OSTER is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a person who worked as an innkeeper or in the brewing trade, derived from the Middle High German word "oster," meaning "host" or "innkeeper."

The earliest known record of the name OSTER can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the 12th century, where it appears as "Osterius." This suggests that the name was already in use by this time period.

In the 13th century, the name OSTER is recorded in various German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony. It is also found in Old French records as "Ostier," indicating the spread of the name across linguistic boundaries.

One notable historical figure bearing the name OSTER was Johann Oster (1580-1635), a German Protestant theologian and writer who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. His works include commentaries on biblical texts and theological treatises.

Another individual of note was Hans Oster (1888-1945), a German army officer who played a prominent role in the German resistance movement against the Nazi regime during World War II. He was executed by the Nazis in 1945 for his involvement in the failed 20 July plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

In the 17th century, the name OSTER can be found in various place names across Germany, such as Osterhausen and Osterholz, reflecting the geographical spread and localization of the surname.

Other notable individuals bearing the OSTER surname include:

1. Anselm Oster (1723-1785), a German Catholic priest and theologian.
2. Friedrich Oster (1768-1835), a German poet and writer.
3. Wilhelm Oster (1832-1901), a German politician and lawyer.
4. Ernst Oster (1879-1951), a German architect and urban planner.
5. Gertrud Oster (1894-1972), a German artist known for her woodcuts and engravings.

The OSTER surname has been carried across the globe by German emigrants, establishing branches of the family in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins and earliest documented instances can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it emerged as an occupational name for those involved in the hospitality and brewing industries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oster

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

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

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

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