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

Osting, 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 Osting surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osting in America

Osting is the 49636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osting surname appeared 423 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 Osting.

We can also compare 2010 data for Osting 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 Osting

The surname OSTING is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German word "ost" meaning "east." It is believed to have originated in the northeastern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as East Prussia, Pomerania, and Brandenburg, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the OSTING name can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions in ancient German manuscripts and local records. One notable example is the appearance of a certain Heinricus Osting in a land registry document from the town of Stralsund, dated 1286.

During the Middle Ages, the OSTING name was likely associated with individuals who resided in or originated from eastern settlements or territories. As people began to adopt hereditary surnames, the name may have been derived from a place name or a descriptive reference to one's geographical origin or location.

In the 15th century, the OSTING surname gained prominence with the rise of Hans Osting (1430-1498), a renowned German merchant and landowner from the city of Rostock. His successful trading ventures and landholdings contributed to the family's prestige and wealth in the region.

Another noteworthy figure bearing the OSTING name was Johann Osting (1556-1628), a German composer and organist from the town of Lübeck. He was acclaimed for his contributions to the development of baroque organ music and his compositions for the Lutheran church.

The OSTING surname also found its way into the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, likely due to migration and trade between the two regions. One prominent Dutch bearer of the name was Pieter Osting (1619-1687), a successful merchant and shipowner based in Amsterdam, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the Dutch Golden Age.

In the 19th century, the OSTING name gained further recognition with the birth of Friedrich Osting (1833-1909), a German politician and journalist who served as a member of the Reichstag (Imperial Parliament) and advocated for social reforms and workers' rights.

Throughout history, the OSTING surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, musicians, politicians, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osting

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

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

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

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