Surname Osterman - Meaning and Origin
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Osterman: What does the surname Osterman mean?
The last name Osterman is of German origin and means "easter man," derived from the Old German word "ôstari" which means Easter. Many different spelling variations are seen in different parts of the world such as Ostermann, Ostman, Osterman, Osterman, Ostermann, Ostern, Osterns, Ostheimer, and Ostman.
The surname Osterman is generally found in records from the Middle Ages, in the German town of Osterman, meaning 'Good Looking Men.' As the Germanic Empire dispersed, so did those with the family name. Osterman is often linked to Jews, as Jews settled in parts of Germany in the 1400's from Italy and Spain, and adopted the surname.
The oldest written record of the Osterman family dates back to 1281 in Ulm, southwest Germany, and was found in the city archives. It mentions one Ernst Osterman, who worked as a knight during this period.
In the United States, the first record of the family's name was of Hans Osterman, found on June 1617 in the ship Elisabeth of Rotterdam. Hans Osterman was an immigrant from Germany to New Netherland.
The Osterman family is a family that has a colorful history and many branches around the world. It is believed to be the oldest family of German origin, and with roots going back to the Middle Ages, the name Osterman is a rich and interesting part of German-American history.
Order DNA origin analysisOsterman: Where does the name Osterman come from?
The last name Osterman is generally thought to be of German origin, with many families still living in Germany today. However, the name can also be found in other countries around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is also seen in smaller numbers in other locations, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, and Argentina.
In the United States, the Osterman name is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois. In these states, it is estimated that around 5,000 families bear the Osterman surname. This is substantially lower than the overall U.S. population, which contains roughly 15 million people with this last name. This suggests that the name is quite uncommon in the United States today.
In Canada, the Osterman name is much less common. The 2016 Canadian census estimates that there are just 2,343 people with the Osterman name living in the country today. It is most commonly found in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
In Australia, the Osterman name is still relatively rare, with only 2,300 people carrying the name, however this is up slightly from the 2011 census, which only recorded 1,868 people with the name. It is expected that the number of Aussies with the Osterman surname will continue to increase in the future.
Overall, the last name Osterman is thought to be quite uncommon today, with the most significant concentrations living in Germany, the United States (specifically in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois) and Canada. Smaller numbers can also be found scattered around the world.
Variations of the surname Osterman
The surname Osterman can be spelled in a number of different ways depending on the language, dialect, and surname origin.
Variants of the name in English include Ostermann, Ostman, Ostmann, Ostmon, Eastman, Eastmann, Eastmon, Eastmond, Austerman and Auchterman.
In German, the surname is spelled Östermann and those of Swedish or Norwegian descent may recognize it as Österson or Östman.
Other versions include Oesterman, Oestreman, Oesterman, Hosterman, Ostrander, Oster come and Oestander.
The surname comes from two German words “Öster” (East) and “mann” (man). It originally belonged to someone from the eastern region of the Holy Roman Empire, those raised outside the family home or simply a name given to those of East Germanic origin.
Surnames derived from the Osterman family include Ostman, Oston, Osten, Ostola, Ostheimer, Ostheimer, Ostrof, Ostroski, Ostrow, Ostling, Osterberg, Osterwold and Ostendorf.
The Osterman surname may also have come from people of Jewish or Slavic descent. Common Jewish-derived surnames include Ostrowski, Ostrov, Ostrowicz, Ostrowsk and Ostrovitz. Common Slavic-derived surnames include Ostrach, Ostropolsky, Ostrovsky, Ostrinsky and Ostrovsky.
In addition, Osterman is a Dutch and North German topographical name meaning someone from an Eastman’s Jump, which described a hill with a steep slope from east to west.
Overall, the Osterman surname has many variations, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Osterman
- Fred Osterman: German shot put athlete.
- Johan Osterman: Swedish chess master in the late 17th and early 18th century.
- Mark Osterman: American photographic historian and preservationist.
- Richard Osterman: American actor.
- Valerio Osterman: Italian sculptor.
- William Osterman: American entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Hedwig Osterman: German theologian and writer.
- Erik Osterman: Swedish politician.
- Gry Osterman: Norwegian experimental filmmaker and artist.
- Harry Osterman: American politician serving as the current Alderman of the 48th Ward of Chicago.