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

Oulman, 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 Oulman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oulman in America

Oulman is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oulman surname appeared 161 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 Oulman.

The history of the last name Oulman

The surname Oulman is believed to have originated in the English counties of Northumberland and Durham, where it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "oull," meaning "owl," and "mann," meaning "man." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone who resembled an owl in appearance or behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oulman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland from 1296, where it appears as "Ouleman." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames in the medieval period before standardized spellings became more common.

In the 14th century, the Oulman family appears to have spread southwards, as evidenced by records from the county of Yorkshire. A notable bearer of the name during this time was John Oulman, a landowner and freeman of the city of York, who was mentioned in the city's guild records in 1367.

The name Oulman can also be found in historical records from the 15th century, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674, which recorded households in various English counties. One entry lists a Thomas Oulman as a householder in the village of Bamburgh, Northumberland.

In the 18th century, the Oulman family continued to be present in northern England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in the counties of Durham and Northumberland. For example, William Oulman, born in 1724 in Durham, was a respected farmer and landowner in the region.

Another notable figure with the surname Oulman was Sir Richard Oulman (1792-1876), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Newcastle upon Tyne. He made his fortune in the coal mining industry and was instrumental in the development of the city's infrastructure and public works.

As the centuries progressed, the Oulman family spread further afield, with some members emigrating to other parts of the British Empire and beyond. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the northeastern counties of England, where it originated as a descriptive nickname in the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oulman

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

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 Oulman 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.

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

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

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