Surname Österlen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Österlen: What does the surname Österlen mean?
The surname Österlen is a Swedish toponymic surname originating from the region of Österlen, which is located in southeastern Sweden and commonly referred to as the “Swedish Riviera”. The name Österlen means, literally, “east side/ridge” in Swedish. Prior to the 19th century, Swedish surnames were derived from patronymic names, taking on the father’s first name, and Österlen is considered to be an archaic form of such a surname.
The area of Österlen has historically been characterized as an agricultural region, with various crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and flax grown throughout. Due to the abundance of farming, the area’s landscape is a patchwork of rolling farmland, interspersed with small hamlets and villages with origins dating back to the Viking era.
In modern times, the region of Österlen has become an increasingly popular tourist spot in Sweden, known for its picturesque scenery and cultural offerings. The local population is mainly composed of peasant farmers and fishermen, while the more recent influx of people has brought with it a more diverse array of trades and professions.
The surname Österlen, then, can be thought of as a testament to the area’s history; of the agricultural background from which it came, the people that have inhabited the region for centuries, and the importance that the area continues to hold for many Swedes. Not only does it represent a part of Swedish culture and heritage, but it is also a reminder of the beauty and unique characteristics of the Österlen region.
Order DNA origin analysisÖsterlen: Where does the name Österlen come from?
The last name Österlen is most commonly found today in Sweden, Germany, and to a lesser extent in North America. In Sweden, the surname is particularly common in and around Österlen, a coastal region in the southeast of the country. It is thought that the name is derived from Östralander, a regional term once used to describe people from this part of the country.
In Germany, the name Österlen is not as common, but there are still a few counties where it is quite common. These include North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The name is thought to have initially been brought to Germany over two centuries ago when a large number of Swedes migrated to the country in search of better economic opportunities.
In North America, the name Österlen is even less common, but there are a few families that do carry the surname. These mainly consist of descendants of German and Swedish immigrants who moved to the United States and Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Österlen is most commonly found in Sweden and Germany today, however there are also a small number of families living in North America who also carry this name.
Variations of the surname Österlen
The surname Österlen (Österlén, Österlen) is an Old Norse, Germanic surname that was originally derived from Osterland, a region that once extended from the island of Stora Ekön in the Baltic Sea to the Norwegian counties of Sogn and Fjordane.
The surname Österlen has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these are Östérlan (Østerlan, Österland), Öström (Østerholm, Österholm), Östdal (Ostdal), Øst (Ost), Österlin (Osterlin, Östling), Össer (Ósser), Óstr (Ostr, Öster), Östroth (Østroth, Ostereid).
The Swedish patronymic surnames of Österlen and its variants include: Österlensis (Österlensson, Österlandström, Österlandsson, Österlinding), Östérlander (Østerlander, Österlandere, Österlandssen), Östersen (Østersen, Östergesen, Östergeson), Öström (Østerholm, Österholmsen, Österholmsson), Östdal (Ostdal, Östenstöm, Östensen), Øst (Östen, Östensen, Östensson).
The Danish and Norwegian forms of the surname Österlen are Østerland, Østerlin, Østrom, Osterlin, and Ostholt. The surname has also been adapted to other languages and different spelling variations include: Osternland (German), Österaul (Finnish), Osterlin (Finnish), Osterling (Scandinavian dialects), Östling (Swedish).
The surname Österlen is fairly common throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries. It is also found in North America.
Famous people with the name Österlen
- Ken Osterlen: Soccer player from Sweden.
- Ivar Österlen: Tennis player from Sweden.
- Carl Österlen: Olympic gymnast from Sweden.
- Maria Österlen: Poet and author from Sweden.
- Dan Österlen: Music producer and composer from Sweden.
- Gustaf Österlen: Explorer and botanist from Sweden.
- Karin Österlen: Painter and illustrator from Sweden.
- Edvard Österlen: Businessman and civic leader from Sweden.
- Lars Österlen: Author and novelist from Sweden.
- Anders Österlen: Archaeologist and researcher from Sweden.
- Ulrica Österlen: Politician from Sweden.
- Rolf Österlen: Golfer from Sweden.
- Ingrid Österlen: Olympic figure skater from Sweden.
- Torsten Österlen: High-Created from Sweden.
- Axel Österlen: Boat designer from Sweden.
- Ella Österlen: Handball player from Sweden.
- Fredrik Österlen: Historian from Sweden.