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

Oursler, 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 Oursler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oursler in America

Oursler is the 43151st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oursler surname appeared 501 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 Oursler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oursler 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 Oursler

The surname Oursler is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ors" meaning horse and "leah" meaning meadow or clearing, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing where horses were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oursler can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Orseleia," referring to a place name in Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname or place name by the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Orseleye" and "Orselee," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time period. These early spellings provide insight into the evolution of the name over time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Oursler was William Oursler (1588-1663), a English politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of King Charles I. He was involved in the English Civil War and supported the Parliamentarian cause.

Another person of historical significance was John Oursler (1720-1795), an American Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the Continental Army under General George Washington. He was born in Virginia and played a role in several key battles during the war.

In the 19th century, the name Oursler can be found in various records and documents, including the birth and marriage records of Thomas Oursler (1815-1892), a farmer from Yorkshire, England. His son, James Oursler (1844-1921), later emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Oursler was Fulton Oursler (1893-1952), an American writer and editor who was best known for his books on religious and spiritual topics, including "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Greatest Book Ever Written."

Another notable Oursler was Grace Oursler (1900-1988), an American writer and journalist who collaborated with her husband, Fulton Oursler, on several books and articles. She was also involved in various charitable organizations and humanitarian efforts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oursler

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

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

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

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