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Ostwald Family History

Ostwald Name Meaning

German: variant of Oswald . German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Ostold composed of the elements ōst (see Oest ) + Old High German walt(an) ‘to rule’. Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name composed of German Ost ‘east’ + Wald ‘forest’.

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


Similar surnames: Oswald, Seewald, Wald, Berwald, Gottwald, Ewald, Rosenwald, Rodewald

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Ostwald family from?

You can see how Ostwald families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ostwald family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Ostwald families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 17 Ostwald families living in New York. This was about 53% of all the recorded Ostwald's in USA. New York had the highest population of Ostwald families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ostwald surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ostwald ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Ostwald. 45% of Ostwald men worked as a Farmer and 39% of Ostwald women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ostwald were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Ostwald | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    45%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    39%
  • Housewife
    16%
  • Housework
    16%
  • Housekeeper
    16%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ostwald family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Ostwald. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ostwald census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Ostwald

Passenger Lists

There are 980 immigration records available for the last name Ostwald. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ostwald immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Ostwald. For the veterans among your Ostwald ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ostwald military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ostwald family history

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What is the average Ostwald lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Ostwald life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Ostwald in 1955 was 61, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ostwald

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ostwald family tree

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