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

Oda, 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 Oda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oda in America

Oda is the 16327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oda surname appeared 1,765 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Oda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oda 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 Oda

The surname Oda originated in Japan during the 7th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Japanese word "oda," which means "small rice paddy field." This name likely referred to the occupation or geographical location of the earliest bearers.

The Oda clan was a prominent samurai family that rose to power during the Sengoku period (15th-16th centuries) of Japanese history. Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), a notorious daimyo (feudal lord) and one of the most famous figures of this era, played a crucial role in unifying Japan after years of civil war.

In ancient documents and records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as "Ohda" and "Ouda." Some early references to the Oda clan can be found in the Azuma Kagami (Mirror of the East), a historical chronicle compiled in the late 13th century.

Another notable bearer of this surname was Oda Nobuyuki (1573-1609), the son of Oda Nobunaga. He served as a daimyo and played a role in the Siege of Osaka Castle, a major conflict during the Sengoku period.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Oda clan continued to hold significant influence and land holdings in various regions of Japan. Oda Nobumasa (1555-1658), a descendant of Oda Nobunaga, was a renowned samurai and daimyo who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.

In more recent times, Oda Makoto (1912-2007) was a respected Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councillors in the post-World War II era.

While the Oda name is most closely associated with Japan, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, the rich history and significance of this surname are deeply rooted in the annals of Japanese feudal society and the tumultuous Sengoku period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oda

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

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

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

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