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

Oyen, 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 Oyen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oyen in America

Oyen is the 43969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oyen surname appeared 490 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 Oyen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oyen 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 Oyen

The surname OYEN is of Norwegian origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "øy," meaning "island." It is likely that the earliest bearers of this surname lived on or near an island, possibly in the coastal regions of Norway.

OYEN is a topographic surname, which means it was initially given to someone based on their place of residence or a distinctive geographic feature associated with their surroundings. In the case of OYEN, it suggests that the name's origins can be traced back to individuals who dwelt on an island or in an area surrounded by water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OYEN can be found in the Danish Census of 1787, where it is listed as a variant spelling of the surname "Øyen." This census provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that time period.

In the 16th century, a notable individual named Hans Oyen (1547-1623) was a prominent Norwegian merchant and shipowner based in Bergen. He played a significant role in the city's thriving trade and maritime activities during that era.

Another historical figure with the surname OYEN was Peter Oyen (1771-1845), a Norwegian painter and engraver who gained recognition for his landscapes and cityscapes depicting scenes from Norway and other parts of Europe.

The name OYEN has also been associated with various place names in Norway, such as the island of Oyen in the municipality of Herøy, and the village of Oyen in the municipality of Tvedestrand. These place names likely derived from the same Old Norse root as the surname, further solidifying its connection to the geographical features of the region.

In the 19th century, a notable individual named Nils Oyen (1839-1907) was a Norwegian engineer and entrepreneur who played a crucial role in the development of Norway's hydroelectric power industry. He was instrumental in the construction of several hydroelectric power plants and is regarded as a pioneering figure in the field.

Another historical figure with the surname OYEN was Jørgen Oyen (1892-1972), a Norwegian lawyer and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Norway for a brief period in 1926. He was also actively involved in the Norwegian labor movement and played a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape during the early 20th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oyen

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!