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Ostermann Family History

Ostermann Surname Meaning

German: topographic name denoting someone who lived to the east of a settlement or who had immigrated from the east from Middle High German oster ‘eastern’ + man ‘man’ or an ethnic name from Middle High German ōstermann ‘Austrian’. In part it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar); compare Osterman.

The surname Ostermann is also found in the Netherlands and France (Alsace and Lorraine).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Ostermann family from?

You can see how Ostermann families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ostermann family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Ostermann families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 12 Ostermann families living in Durham. This was about 55% of all the recorded Ostermann's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Ostermann families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ostermann surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Ostermann ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ostermann. 25% of Ostermann men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Ostermann women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ostermann were Salesman and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Ostermann | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    25%
  • Farm Laborer
    10%
  • Laborer
    9%
  • Salesman
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    34%
  • Secretary
    23%
  • Housewife
    23%
  • Housekeeper
    23%

What Ostermann family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Ostermann. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ostermann census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ostermann

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Ostermann. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ostermann immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Ostermann. For the veterans among your Ostermann ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ostermann military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ostermann family history

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What is the average Ostermann lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Ostermann life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Ostermann in 1955 was 57, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ostermann

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ostermann ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ostermann family tree

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