Surname Österling - Meaning and Origin

Österling: What does the surname Österling mean?

The last name Österling is of Swedish origin and is a locational surname. It is derived from the name of a person who was from a place known as Österling or Österlinge which is part of Östermalm (a district of Stockholm). The meaning of the place name comes from Swedish words/roots: öster (‘east’) and ling (‘path/road’). Thus, Österling is literally translated to mean ‘the eastern path’.

The original bearer of the surname would have been someone who came from the village of Österling. At some point, that individual immigrated or relocated, thus taking the name from their place of origin to another place, and the surname was adopted by their descendants.

Today, the surname Österling is found mainly in Sweden, although there are also several people around the world who have adopted the surname. The surname can also be found spelled as Östling, Oestling, and Ostling, though Österling is the most common spelling in Sweden.

The meaning behind the surname Österling is symbolic of a traveler’s journey, with the name acting as a reminder of the original home of the bearer and the journey taken to bring them to their new home. As such, the surname is a reminder of the courage and strength that it takes to make a journey, and to make a life in a new land.

Österling: Where does the name Österling come from?

The last name Österling is most commonly found in Sweden and parts of the Baltics today. The name is derived from a Danish surname meaning “eastern meadow” and has been used as a surname in Scandinavia since the 16th century. According to Sweden’s population register, Österling is the 652nd most common surname in the country, with about 2,346 people bearing it.

The name can be found in other parts of Europe as well, though in lower numbers. It is especially common in the Baltics, particularly in the counties of Estonia and Latvia, though also Finland and Lithuania. In Estonia, it is the 591st most common surname, with about 1,273 people using it. In Latvia, it ranks as the 610th most common surname, with 954 people owning it.

In the United States, Österling is a much rarer surname. According to the last US census, only 247 people claimed it. However, it is possible the name was misspelled or immigrants changed their surname upon arriving in America. The presence of the Österling surname in the US today is likely much higher, as Swedish immigration to the US increased in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname Österling

The surname Österling has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most commonly used variants and spellings include: Oesterling, Oesterlyn, Osterling, Osterlin, Estling, Etterling, Usterling, and Usterlyn.

Oesterling can also be spelled in the Germanic version with an ä, which is Oeßterling, or with an ö, which is ößterling. The spelling can also be found in the Netherlands as Östering or Oestring, as well as in Sweden as Oesterling or Österling.

The surname can also be seen as Usterlin, Usterling, Austerling, and Estling which were the original spellings from Uster, Switzerland, in the 15th century. The spelling of Usterlin became more common as the spellings of Usterling and Austerling as the family migrated from Uster to the surrounding area.

The Oesterlins are a family from Germany that share the same root as Österling. The Oesterlin family mainly settled in Mecklenburg in the 19th century, coming from further south in Bavaria.

The surname Österling has changed and evolved over time and as a result various spellings are in existence today. One must look into the local area where one's relatives may have lived to determine which spelling was being used.

Famous people with the name Österling

• Linn Österling, Swedish artist specializing in photography and sculpting.
• Emma Österling, Swedish literary author and feminist.
• Johan Österling, Swedish composer and classical conductor.
• Per Österling, Swedish philosopher and historian.
• Lars Österling, Swedish actor known for many roles in Swedish films and television.
• Anders Österling, Swedish author and journalist.
• Oskar Österling, Swedish professional golfer and youngest Ryder Cup winner.
• Anna Österling, Swedish Olympian in synchronized swimming.
• Maria Österling, Swedish television personality and actress.
• Karin Österling, Swedish philanthropist and childrens rights activist.

Other surnames

Österlin