Explore the Family Name Oberstein
The meaning of Oberstein
German: topographic name from Middle High German ober ‘upper’ + stein ‘rock, stone’, also ‘castle’, hence a habitational or topographic name from the place Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate with the latter part of the name taken from a rock above the town.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Oberstein in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Oberstein dipped slightly in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Oberstein was ranked 93,841, but it fell to a rank of 101,247 by 2010, marking a decrease of 7.89 percent. The number of people carrying the Oberstein surname also decreased during this period, with a total count of 181 in 2000 dropping marginally to 178 in 2010. That's a decline of 1.66 percent. Consequently, the representation of the Oberstein surname per 100,000 people also dropped by 14.29 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,841 | #101,247 | -7.89% |
| Count | 181 | 178 | -1.66% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.07 | 0.06 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Oberstein
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data revealed a small shift in the ethnic identity associated with the Oberstein surname from 2000 to 2010. While there were no recorded instances of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, two or more races, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during these years, the percentages for White and Hispanic showed changes. The proportion of individuals with the Oberstein surname who identified as White fell from 95.58 percent in 2000 to 91.57 percent in 2010, a decrease of 4.20 percent. Meanwhile, the proportion identifying as Hispanic increased significantly, rising from 4.42 percent in 2000 to 7.87 percent in 2010 — an increase of 78.05 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.58% | 91.57% | -4.2% |
| Hispanic | 4.42% | 7.87% | 78.05% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |