Surname Osten - Meaning and Origin
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Osten: What does the surname Osten mean?
The last name Osten is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German word "ost" for "east", and thus signifies an "easterner". In some cases, it may also be a locational surname, referring to someone living in an area east of a particular landmark.
The spelling of this surname has variant forms such as Oesten and Oester. This is both due to changes resulting from the German language spoken in different parts of the country, as well as variations introduced when the name was taken to different countries during the course of emigration. Osten is most strongly represented in Germany, where over 21,000 people use it as a family name.
The earliest evidence of the name dates back to 1441 and a record of one Mathias Osten from Thüringen, Germany. He was a vassal of Unstrut in the same year, and was sent to Saxony to collect taxes. The next record is of a companion of the emperor in 1520 named Othes Osten. Furthermore, records show that during the mid-1800s there were many different Osten family lines residing in different cities throughout Germany, including Hannover, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Niedersachsen.
Today the surname Osten is still widespread throughout the world, with more than 4000 people using it in the United States. Furthermore, it is extremely common in Germany, where it ranks as the 123rd most frequent surname. This last name is an important part of human history, embodying a legacy of regional tradition, language, and citizenship.
Order DNA origin analysisOsten: Where does the name Osten come from?
The last name Osten is believed to have originated in Scandinavia. It is most common today in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In the Netherlands, the most populous region where the Osten name can be found is Groningen. Other regions where the name Osten is relatively common are Drenthe, Overijssel, Friesland, and Noord-Holland.
In Germany, the Osten family name is most commonly found in the northern and western regions of the country, especially in Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen, as well as in the cities of Hamburg and Berlin. It is also present in the formerly East German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Berlin, and Sachsen.
The Osten surname is present in the other Nordic countries, often in the northern and western regions. In Norway, Osten is particularly common in Akershus, Buskerud, and Hedmark. In Sweden, Osten can be found in areas such as Gavleborg, Vastmanland, and Stockholms lan, as well as in the capital of Stockholm.
Osten is rarely found in other countries, though there is a small but growing presence in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Osten
The surname Osten is first recorded in the 13th century, when it was used as a personal name in Old Germanic languages. It is derived from the Old High German word “osten,” which means “east.” It is an extremely common surname in Germany today.
The base form of Osten can also be spelled as Ostin, Östen, Oesten, Östin, and Ostyn, although these are considered as variants.
In some cases, Osten is considered an anglicization of the double-barreled surname Östen-Törner, which has multiple variants of its own. These include Oesten-Torner, Oesten-Törner, Osteen-Törner, Osten-Toerner, Osten-Törne, Easton-Törne, and Östin-Törner.
In Scandinavia, the surname is spelled Öster, which is the Old Norse and Swedish spelling. In Norwegian, it is spelled Östen, and in Danish it is spelled Oesten.
In some cases, the surname is Anglicized to Easton. In other cases, the “e” is dropped, making it Aston. A popular variant is Ostlin, which combines the Old German word Osten with the personal suffix “-lin” or “-lein.”
Osten is a very common name in Germany, and it can be found in many other parts of the world, as well. It is a surname with multiple variants, spellings, and origins, making it an interesting and unique surname to trace and explore.
Famous people with the name Osten
- Hans Osten: German actor and screenwriter who played in the film ‘The Seventh Cross’ in 1944.
- Kristen Osten:in Producer and documentary film editor known for her work on films such as ‘Shelter’ and ‘One Night Only’.
- Susan Osten: German television director and screenwriter best known for her work on the TV series ‘In Aller Freundschaft’.
- Harold Osten: New York City Fire Department Commissioner in 1992.
- Jessica Osten: American film editor and documentary film producer known for her work on films such as ‘Will & Grace’ and ‘Pleasantville’.
- Tracey Osten: American politician who served as the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services for the State of Maine from 2011-2014.
- Vincent Osten: Austrian actor and voice actor best known for his work on the films ‘Die Krupps’ and ‘The Iron Lady’.
- Gustav Osten: Norwegian politician and leader of the Norwegian Conservative Party from 1934-1945.
- Willem Osten: Dutch sculptor and teacher, best known for his work on the Monument to the Unknown Political Prisoner in Amsterdam.
- Jacob Osten: Norwegian-Amgivey politician who served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament from 1923-1937.