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

Ostman, 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 Ostman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ostman in America

Ostman is the 33695th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ostman surname appeared 676 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 Ostman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ostman 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 Ostman

The surname Ostman is of Swedish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse words "aust" meaning "east" and "man" referring to a person. This name was likely given to someone who resided in an easterly location or had migrated from the east.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ostman name can be found in the Diplomatarium Suecanum, a collection of Swedish diplomatic records from the 13th century. Here, a man named Ostman Jönsson is mentioned in a document dated 1289, suggesting the surname's usage during this time.

In the 14th century, the Ostman name appeared in the Äldre Västgötalagen, an ancient provincial law code from the region of Västergötland in Sweden. This text refers to an individual called Ostman Eriksson, who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.

During the 15th century, the Ostman surname gained prominence in the Swedish city of Östergötland. Historical records from this period mention a merchant named Ostman Hansson, who traded goods along the Baltic Sea coastline.

One of the most notable individuals with the Ostman surname was Lars Ostman, a Swedish explorer and cartographer who lived between 1661 and 1732. He is best known for his expeditions to the Arctic regions and his detailed maps of the northern coasts of Scandinavia.

Another significant figure was Johan Ostman (1776-1841), a Swedish politician and jurist who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Sweden from 1838 until his death. He played a crucial role in shaping the country's legal system during the early 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the Ostman name is associated with Helge Ostman (1891-1968), a renowned Swedish author and poet. His works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, earned him widespread recognition and several literary awards.

The Ostman surname has also been found in historical records from other parts of Scandinavia, such as Norway and Denmark, suggesting its spread beyond Sweden's borders over time.

While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval times, it has continued to be used throughout the centuries, with many individuals bearing the Ostman surname making significant contributions to various fields across the Nordic region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ostman

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

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

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

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