Surname Östlund - Meaning and Origin
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Östlund: What does the surname Östlund mean?
The last name Östlund is a Swedish topographic surname that is derived from the Old Swedish word "öst tunnel," which means "east wood." The surname was most likely originally created to indicate an individual who was originally from or connected to an area to the east of the wood. The first known recorded use of the surname comes from the 1645 census records in Sweden, where it was registered as a location-based surname under the name Östlunne.
Over time, as migration increased and more people adopted the surname, it began to take different forms, such as Östland, Österlandt, or Östlund. As well, the area of origin for the surname is typically thought of as Östergötland, which is a province in southeast Sweden. This is the likely origin of the surname, as some of the earliest recorded uses of it took place in this region.
Today, the surname Östlund is still a relatively common Swedish surname and is particularly associated with the province of Östergötland. The last name is also found in parts of Germany, the United States, and Canada, likely due to increased immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Individuals with the surname can be proud to bear a name that has roots in the ancient Swedish language and is reflective of ancient Swedish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisÖstlund: Where does the name Östlund come from?
The last name Östlund is most commonly found today in its native Sweden. According to records from Svensk etymologisk ordbok, the surname Östlund first appeared in Sweden in the 16th century, and is derived from the Old Norse term "øy" meaning island.
In Sweden, Östlund is one of the more popular names, ranking as the 77th most common surname. In the most populated areas of Sweden such as the Stockholm region, it is even more common. It is especially prevalent along the southern part of the country in the Götaland region.
Outside of Sweden it is still a relatively rare last name, with the majority of people who bear it coming from countries with a significant Swedish population. In particular, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand all have notable numbers of people surnamed Östlund.
The spread of the name beyond Sweden appears to have happened in the late 19th century. This was most likely due to Swedish emigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when many Swedes sought a better life overseas in places like the United States.
So today, the last name Östlund is most commonly found in its native Sweden, but there are also many people with the name living abroad, most of whom are descended from Swedes who emigrated in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Östlund
The surname Östlund is a patronymic surname. It is usually derived from the first name of the father of the bearer and is sometimes also spelled as Østlund, Ostlund, Ostlun, Oestlund, or Oestlun.
The surname Östlund is typically Swedish and Norwegian in origin. It is derived from the word 'Öst', which essentially means 'east', and originally referred to those residing in the east. This may have been in reference to a geographical location or a family originating from a specific location to the east. The suffix 'lund' often indicated proximity and may mean that the family in question originally lived or worked near a forest, grove, or clearing. In some cases it may also indicate a family of a specific lineage or rank.
The name is sometimes anglicised to 'Eastland'. It is very common throughout Sweden and Norway, as well as other Scandinavian countries as well as in countries where there are large population of descendants from those countries.
As far as variant surnames are concerned, some of the other spellings you may encounter include Estlund, Estlun, Østlun, Ostelun, Ostellun, and Oestland. In some cases, the use of the 'œ' or 'ø' may indicate that the family in question has Danish roots.
Finally, like many patronymic surnames, Östlund may also have developed into some other surnames. As such, 'Östals', 'Östöm', and 'Östergren' are all surnames derived from 'Östlund'.
Famous people with the name Östlund
- Ruben Östlund: Swedish film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. Won the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for his movie The Square.
- Regine Östlund: Swedish Art Director and Production Designer who has worked on several Swedish television shows.
- Måns Östlund: Swedish film score composer, music producer, and musician.
- Petter Östlund: Swedish football player.
- Julia Östlund: Swedish modern pentathlete. Winner of a bronze medal at the 2016 European Championships.
- Niklas Östlund: Swedish beach volleyball player and winner of the 2012 European Beach Volleyball Championships.
- Cornelia Östlund: Swedish actress and co founder of Theatrum.
- Simon Östlund: Swedish tennis player and winner of four ITF Future tournaments.
- Fredrik Östlund: Swedish freestyle skier and winner of the silver medal in slopestyle at the 2017 European Championships.
- Oskar Östlund: Swedish YouTuber and singer.