Explore the Family Name Osterberg
The meaning of Osterberg
1. German: habitational name from any of many places called with Middle Low German or Middle High German ōster ‘eastern’ + berg ‘mountain, hill’. Places so named are common in Bavaria, Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. 2. Swedish (Österberg) and Norwegian (Østerberg): ornamental or topographic name composed of the elements öster ‘eastern’ + berg ‘mountain, hill’. Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Nils, Einer, Fredrik, Erik, Lars, Lennart.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Osterberg in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Osterberg has seen a slight decrease in popularity over the decade from 2000 to 2010. The rank of this surname moved from 17,165 in 2000 to 18,218 in 2010, reflecting a change of -6.13%. However, the count of individuals with the Osterberg surname remained relatively stable, with only a minor increase from 1,523 in 2000 to 1,527 in 2010 - a minimal change of 0.26%. Accordingly, the proportion per 100k of people with this surname decreased by 7.14%, going from 0.56 in 2000 to 0.52 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,165 | #18,218 | -6.13% |
| Count | 1,523 | 1,527 | 0.26% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.56 | 0.52 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Osterberg
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Osterberg. Between 2000 and 2010, there was an observable increase in its association with those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.46 to 0.52) and those identifying as belonging to two or more races (from 0.39 to 1.11). Strikingly, the percentage of Osterbergs identifying as Hispanic nearly doubled, from 1.58 to 2.36. Meanwhile, the percentage of Osterbergs identifying as White slightly declined from 97.18 to 95.42. There was no recorded change for those identifying as Black or as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.18% | 95.42% | -1.81% |
| Hispanic | 1.58% | 2.36% | 49.37% |
| Two or More Races | 0.39% | 1.11% | 184.62% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.46% | 0.52% | 13.04% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |