Last Name Osterlund

Learn more about the origin of the last name Osterlund

The meaning and origin of the last name Osterlund

The surname Osterlund is of Scandinavian origin, specifically from Sweden and Finland. It is derived from two elements: "Öster" meaning eastern, and "land" meaning land or region. This name was likely given to someone who lived in an area considered to be the east, or it could have been a topographic surname for someone who lived near an eastern district or body of water. The variant Osterlund is less common than Ostlund or Östlund but shares the same roots and meaning. The name has been recorded in various spellings throughout history, reflecting the phonetic changes and spelling variations that occurred during the Middle Ages when written records were first created.

Geographical distribution of the last name Osterlund

The surname Osterlund is predominantly of Scandinavian origin and has a significant presence in Sweden and Finland. According to data from FamilyEducation.com, in Sweden, it is most frequent in the county of Västra Götaland and the city of Gothenburg. In Finland, it is more prevalent in the region of Uusimaa, particularly in the capital Helsinki. Outside Scandinavia, there are also instances of the Osterlund surname in the United States, with a concentration in states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, which have a historical connection to Swedish immigration. In Australia, it is commonly found in the state of Victoria, due to the migration from Sweden during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Osterlund

The surname Osterlund has several variations and spellings, primarily due to differences in transliteration and transcription over time and across regions. Here are some of the most common variations:

1. Osterlund: This is the original Swedish form of the name, derived from the Old Norse elements Austr (east) and land (land).
2. Åström: A variant of Osterlund, where Å represents a common Scandinavian letter pronounced like the English 'o' in 'mop'.
3. Östlund: Another variation, with Ö being a Swedish alphabet character equivalent to the German "ö" and the Danish/Norwegian "ø". This form can be considered an alternative spelling of Osterlund.
4. Ostlund: An English transcription of the original Swedish surname.
5. Austrulund: A less common variant, featuring an old Norse form of east (Austr) combined with land (land).
6. Ostrellund: A possible misspelling or variant of Osterlund.
7. Östrand: A variant where the ending "-lund" has been replaced by "-rand", a common Swedish place name suffix.
8. Ahlstrom-Osterlund: A hyphenated form combining two Scandinavian surnames, where Ahlstrom is another common Swedish surname derived from a farm or estate named "Ahl".

Famous people with the last name Osterlund

Prominent individuals with the surname Osterlund include:

1. Stellan Skarsgård (b. 1951), a Swedish actor who has appeared in numerous films, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Thor series and Mamma Mia! He is also known for his roles in films such as Good Will Hunting and Breaking the Waves.
2. Björn Osterlund (b. 1956), a Swedish former ice hockey player who won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. He also played for the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings during his professional career.
3. Anders Osterlind (b. 1984), a Swedish musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as one of the founding members of the pop rock band Razorlight, which had international success in the mid-2000s.
4. Mariah Carey's former husband Nick Cannon (b. 1980), whose mother, Joyce Osterlund, is of Swedish descent. Cannon is an actor, comedian, rapper, and television personality, known for hosting the MTV game show Wild 'N Out and co-hosting the morning radio show Power 106's The Breakfast Club.

Genealogical research on the last name Osterlund

The surname Osterlund is predominantly of Scandinavian origin, particularly associated with Sweden and Finland. It is derived from two elements: "Öster" meaning east, and "land" meaning land or territory. Thus, the name originally denoted someone who lived in an eastern region. The first known records of this surname date back to the 16th century in Sweden. Notable individuals bearing the Osterlund name include Anders Osterlund, a Swedish military officer during the Great Northern War in the early 18th century, and Gustaf Osterlund, a Finnish architect who contributed significantly to Helsinki's urban landscape in the late 19th century. The name remains common in both Sweden and Finland today, with various spellings and regional variations such as Österlund, Östlund, and Ostlund also encountered.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Osterlund"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

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NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 23 July 2025