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

Otterstrom, 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 Otterstrom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Otterstrom in America

Otterstrom is the 72771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Otterstrom surname appeared 267 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 Otterstrom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Otterstrom 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 Otterstrom

The surname Otterstrom has its origins in Sweden, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse words "otr," meaning otter, and "strom," meaning stream or river. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a stream or river frequented by otters.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Swedish church records from the late 1500s, where it appears as "Otterström." Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, Otterstrom. It is worth noting that variations of the name, such as Otterström and Otterstrøm, are still used in other Scandinavian countries.

The name Otterstrom has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. Lars Otterstrom (1588-1654), a Swedish merchant and landowner, is one of the earliest known bearers of the name. He was a prominent figure in the city of Gothenburg and played a role in its early development.

Another notable bearer of the name was Johan Otterstrom (1723-1798), a Swedish botanist and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Scandinavia and is credited with discovering several new species of plants.

In the 19th century, Carl Otterstrom (1815-1887) was a Swedish politician and member of the Riksdag (parliament). He was a vocal advocate for social reforms and played a crucial role in the abolition of the Swedish nobility's privileges.

Ingrid Otterstrom (1901-1975) was a Swedish author and playwright, known for her works exploring themes of love, relationships, and societal norms. Her play "Familjen" (The Family) was particularly well-received and is considered one of her most notable works.

More recently, Sven Otterstrom (1935-2019) was a renowned Swedish architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings and urban spaces in Stockholm and other cities across Sweden.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Otterstrom throughout history. The name's origins and its association with Sweden's natural landscape and cultural heritage have contributed to its enduring presence in the country's history and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Otterstrom

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

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

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

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