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

Obara, 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 Obara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Obara in America

Obara is the 36585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Obara surname appeared 611 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 Obara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Obara to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Obara

The surname OBARA is of Japanese origin and has its roots in the Edo period of Japanese history, which spanned from the early 17th century to the mid-19th century. The name is believed to have originated in the Kyushu region of southern Japan, particularly in the Fukuoka and Saga prefectures.

One theory suggests that OBARA is derived from the Japanese word "obara," which means "big field" or "large meadow." This could indicate that the name might have been given to families who owned or lived near large agricultural fields or meadows. Another possibility is that the name is related to the Japanese word "bara," which means "rose," potentially signifying a connection to rose cultivation or a place name associated with roses.

In terms of historical records, the OBARA surname appears in various feudal lord family registries and land ownership documents from the Edo period. For instance, there are references to the OBARA family in the records of the Kuroda clan, a prominent samurai family that ruled over parts of Kyushu during that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OBARA surname dates back to the late 16th century, when a samurai named OBARA Sukemochi served under the influential Otomo clan in northern Kyushu. Another notable figure was OBARA Nagatsune, a 17th-century samurai and military strategist who played a role in the Siege of Osaka Castle.

The OBARA surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout Japanese history. For example, OBARA Kuniyoshi (1887-1977) was a renowned Japanese painter and printmaker who specialized in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. OBARA Hiroshi (1905-1988) was a prominent Japanese physicist who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and particle accelerators.

In the literary world, OBARA Sumiko (1924-2022) was a celebrated Japanese author and poet, known for her novels and short stories that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. OBARA Seiichi (1942-2010) was a respected Japanese film director and screenwriter, best known for his award-winning films that tackled social and political issues.

Another notable figure was OBARA Masao (1923-1999), a Japanese businessman and entrepreneur who founded the successful OBARA Group, a multinational corporation specializing in construction equipment and machinery.

While the OBARA surname has its origins in Japan, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical roots and significance of this surname can be traced back to its Japanese heritage and the rich cultural traditions of the Kyushu region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Obara

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

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 Obara 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Obara has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Obara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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