Find out how popular the last name Motooka is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Motooka.

Motooka, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Motooka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Motooka in America

Motooka is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Motooka surname appeared 107 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Motooka.

The history of the last name Motooka

The surname MOTOOKA is believed to have originated in Japan during the late 16th or early 17th century. It is derived from the Japanese words "moto," meaning "origin" or "source," and "oka," meaning "hill" or "small mountain." The name is thought to have referred to a person or family who lived near or on a hill or small mountain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MOTOOKA surname appears in a historical document from the Edo period (1603-1868), which mentions a samurai warrior named Motooka Nobuyuki who served under the Tokugawa shogunate. Nobuyuki was born in 1612 and died in 1683.

In the late 18th century, a prominent scholar and poet named Motooka Ren'ō (1753-1833) gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Japanese classical literature and poetry. Ren'ō was born in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and was a respected figure in the literary circles of his time.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), a businessman named Motooka Masao (1846-1918) established a successful trading company that exported Japanese goods to overseas markets. Masao's company played a significant role in promoting Japanese products abroad and contributed to the country's economic development.

In the 20th century, a notable figure named Motooka Kunihiko (1908-1992) made his mark as a renowned architect. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Japan, including the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan concert hall and the Kiyosumi Gardens Museum.

Another individual of note was Motooka Hiromi (1938-2017), a respected journalist and author who wrote extensively on social and political issues in Japan. Hiromi's works provided insightful commentary on the country's post-war development and the challenges faced by modern Japanese society.

While the MOTOOKA surname has its roots in Japan, it is possible that some individuals with this name may have migrated to other parts of the world over the centuries. However, the majority of historical records and notable figures associated with this surname are linked to Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Motooka

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Motooka.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Motooka was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Motooka was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Motooka, please contact us.

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