Derived from the Old English elements os 'god' and beorn 'bear'. During the Anglo-Saxon period there was also a Norse cognate Ásbjörn used in England, and after the Norman conquest the Norman cognate Osbern was introduced. It was occasionally revived in the 19th century, in part from a surname that was derived from the given name. Osborn originates in Old English language and means 'god of bears'. Originally, it was used as a surname and as a surname it functions until today. As a masculine given name it is very rare.
