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

Ostrovsky, 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 Ostrovsky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ostrovsky in America

Ostrovsky is the 39281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ostrovsky surname appeared 560 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 Ostrovsky.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ostrovsky 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 Ostrovsky

The surname Ostrovsky originated in Russia and is derived from the Russian word "ostrova," which means "island." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement or area located on an island or surrounded by water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century, with references found in various historical documents and records from that era. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Velvet Book, a register of Russian nobility compiled during the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible (1530-1584).

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ostrovsky name became more prevalent, particularly among members of the Russian nobility and gentry. Several individuals bearing this surname achieved notable positions and recognition during this time period.

One such individual was Prince Yuri Ostrovsky (1622-1697), a prominent military commander who served under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and played a significant role in the Russo-Polish War of 1654-1667. Another notable figure was Ivan Ostrovsky (1744-1808), a renowned architect who designed several prominent buildings in St. Petersburg, including the Mikhailovsky Palace.

In the 19th century, the Ostrovsky name gained further prominence with the birth of Alexander Ostrovsky (1823-1886), a celebrated Russian playwright and dramatist widely regarded as the founder of the Russian national theatre. His works, such as "The Storm" and "The Bankrupt," provided insightful depictions of Russian society and culture during that era.

Another notable individual with this surname was Nikolai Ostrovsky (1904-1936), a Soviet writer and revolutionary whose semi-autobiographical novel "How the Steel Was Tempered" became a classic of Soviet literature and was widely praised for its depiction of the Bolshevik Revolution and Civil War.

In the 20th century, the Ostrovsky name continued to be associated with various fields, including the arts, sciences, and politics. Mikhail Ostrovsky (1890-1963) was a prominent Soviet geologist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of the Arctic region.

It is worth noting that while the surname Ostrovsky is predominantly associated with Russia, variations and spellings of the name can also be found in other Slavic countries, such as Ukraine and Belarus, reflecting the historical and cultural connections between these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ostrovsky

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

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

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

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