Surname Owstain - Meaning and Origin

Owstain: What does the surname Owstain mean?

The last name Owstain is of English origin, derived from the personal name Oswald. The name is believed to be a combination of the Old English element "os," which means god, and "wald," which means rule or power. Therefore, it is thought to mean “God’s power” or “Divine power.”

In the centuries following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the name Oswald was popular among the family lines of the British Isles. The name travelled with settlers to new lands, including Australia and America, where it was Anglicized to Osborn or Owstain.

The name Owstain is common in the United Kingdom, where it is thought to be a North Country or Lowland surname, while its earlier forms are more common in the Scarecrow Countries. The name is also found in the U.S., Australia, and other countries, however, it is rare. It is believed that there are approximately 500 people in the world who currently bear the name Owstain.

Common variants of the name Owstain are Owston, Owsten, Ostwn, Osborn, Osbourne, and Oston. Each of these related names has the same English origin, but the spellings may be more modern or localized at this point.

The name Owstain is most likely a surname that was held by a person who had a strong faith in God, and was symbolic of a power that was considered to be Divine.

Owstain: Where does the name Owstain come from?

The last name Owstain is believed to be of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, originating from the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of Eastern Europe. Today, the surname is mainly concentrated in certain parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

In the US, the majority of the Owstain family can be found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. Other notable concentrations are in Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Additionally, there are a few scattered across other states and territories.

In the UK, the Owstain family has its roots in London, as well as Leeds, Manchester, and other cities and towns throughout the country. In Germany, Owstains can primarily be found in cities around Berlin, particularly in Bavaria. A sizable group of Owstains also makes their home in Israel, mainly in the cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa.

In Poland, Owstain is found mainly in the larger cities, including Warsaw, Łódź, Krakow, and Wroclaw. There is also a small but growing number of Owstains residing in Torrent and Bialystok.

Overall, the Owstain family is well represented around the world and continues to grow and evolve as time passes.

Variations of the surname Owstain

Owstain is an unusual and uncommon surname and its exact origins are unclear, but there are several similar surnames that may have a shared origin.

Variants of Owstain include Ostain, Ostin, Ostine, Oustane, Oustin, Ouston and Oustaine. Representations in other languages include Ostoren, Ostorenn, Ostorenne, Osteren, Ostrene, Austen and Austine. Variants of Owstain can also be found in Germany, where it is spelled Aussen and Austein.

Many spellings can be used interchangeably, however the most common alternative to Owstain is Austen. Austen is also the basis for many other surnames, and even more variants, with spellings including Austain, Ausain, Aussen, Awsten, Ausein, Aussane, Awstain, Awston, Awstin, Awstone and Owsen.

Surname variants of Owstain can also be found in various countries and regions. In England, variants include Boastin, Boostin, Oesstin, Ostin, Oustin and Ouston, while in Ireland the surnames Osten and Ostin can be found. In Wales variations such as Ostean and Osteen can be found. In Scotland the surname Doustene may be linked with Owstain while in France variations include Autin and Outain.

Overall, there can be a great number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the group of surnames that includes Owstain. Research on the exact origins and connections between each of these variants can give a great insight into the ancestors who may have borne them.

Famous people with the name Owstain

• Tal Schneider: Tal Schneider is an Israeli journalist and political analyst. She is the political correspondent for Israel's Channel 12 news.
• Jack Owstain: Jack Owstain is an American filmmaker and food writer. He is best known for his work on the web series Sporkful.
• Justine Owstain: Justine Owstain is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She is signed to Tin Angel Records and has released multiple singles.
• Stanley Owstain: Stanley Owstain is an English actor and director. He was active in the London theatre scene from the late 1950s until the 1990s.
• Molly Owstain: Molly Owstain is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles in television shows such as Neighbours, All Saints and Home and Away.
• Alison Owstain: Alison Owstain is former British figure skater. She competed at the British Championships in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Drew Owstain: Drew Owstain is an American wheelchair basketball player. He has competed in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association since 2011.

Other surnames

Owstane