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

Osterfeld, 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 Osterfeld surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osterfeld in America

Osterfeld is the 80131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osterfeld surname appeared 237 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 Osterfeld.

We can also compare 2010 data for Osterfeld 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 Osterfeld

The surname Osterfeld originated in Germany, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the town of Osterfeld, located in the district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Brandenburg. The name is composed of the German words "oster," meaning "east," and "feld," meaning "field" or "open land," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name hailed from an eastern field or settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the name Osterfeld can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from Brandenburg, which mentions an individual named Henricus de Osterfeld in the year 1348. This record provides evidence of the name's use during the 14th century in the region.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of various German parishes, indicating its spread and establishment as a surname. Notable examples include Johannes Osterfeld, born in 1462 in Lübbenau, and Margaretha Osterfeld, born in 1487 in Cottbus.

Throughout the centuries, several individuals bearing the surname Osterfeld have left their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Johann Osterfeld (1620-1688), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. His works, including "Theologia Polemica" and "Theologia Practica," were widely read and influential in their time.

Another prominent figure was Friedrich Wilhelm Osterfeld (1781-1856), a German jurist and legal scholar. He served as a judge in the Prussian court system and authored several influential works on civil law and legal theory.

In the realm of art, the name Osterfeld is associated with Wilhelm Osterfeld (1820-1887), a German painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works were exhibited in major galleries across Europe and are now part of various museum collections.

The 19th century also saw the emergence of Carl Osterfeld (1845-1923), a German industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Osterfeld Maschinenfabrik, a successful machinery manufacturing company that played a significant role in the industrialization of Germany.

Lastly, a more recent figure of note is Hans-Jürgen Osterfeld (1923-2001), a German musician and composer. He was a prominent figure in the field of contemporary classical music and served as the director of the Cologne Music Academy from 1967 to 1988.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and diversity of individuals who have carried the surname Osterfeld throughout the centuries, contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact on German culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osterfeld

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

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

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

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