Ostrom or Öström is a Swedish surname meaning "island stream". Notable people with the surname include: Elinor Ostrom (1933–2012), American political economist Ellen Ostrom, former dancer in the New York City Ballet's corps de ballet Gilbert Wellington Ostrom (1837–1917), Ontario lawyer and political figure Hans Ostrom (born 1954), American professor, writer, editor, and scholar John Ostrom (1928–2005), American paleontologist Magnus Öström, drummer for the Esbjörn Svensson Trio Meredith Ostrom (born 1977), American actress, model, and painter Tom Ostrom (1936–1994), American psychologist Vincent Ostrom (1919–2012), American political scientist Walter Ostrom, ceramic artist Robert Ostrom (born 1998), American entomologist Sydney Ostrom (born 1998), American physicist See also Ostrum (disambiguation) Oestrum (disambiguation) Swedish-language surnames