Odea
Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deághaidh," meaning "descendant of Deághaidh," a personal name of uncertain origin.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,462 Americans carry the last name Odea. That puts it at #10,751 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.01 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 99,005 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Odea surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.5K
1 in 99,005
Census rank
#10,751
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,968 bearers of the surname Odea in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.01 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10751st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Odea, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Odea
The surname ODEA is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it first emerged in the medieval era. It is thought to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'Dea, which translates to "descendant of the son of God." This name was likely adopted by a devout Catholic family or one associated with the Church.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1317, a Brian O'Dea is mentioned as a member of the Dál gCais clan, which ruled over parts of what is now County Clare.
By the 16th century, the ODEA surname had spread throughout Munster, particularly in Counties Clare and Limerick. The name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, a collection of administrative records from the 1500s, indicating the family's presence in the region during this turbulent time.
In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Donough O'Dea served as the Archbishop of Tuam from 1609 to 1612. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church's efforts to maintain its influence in Ireland during the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable individual was Dermot O'Dea, born in 1572, who was a Irish soldier and commander in the Nine Years' War against English rule. He fought alongside the legendary Red Hugh O'Donnell and is remembered for his bravery and military prowess.
The name ODEA can also be linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Dysert O'Dea in County Clare, which was likely named after an early clan member or landowner.
Other notable figures throughout history include John O'Dea (1793-1868), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who founded the first Catholic college in Oregon, and Michael O'Dea (1865-1952), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Seattle.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Odea
Among Census respondents with the surname Odea, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Odea bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Odea surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Odea surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,129 | #10,751 | -6.1% |
| Count | 2,927 | 2,968 | 1.4% |
| Per 100K | 1.09 | 1.01 | -7.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Odea bearers went from 2,927 to 2,968 (+1.4% change). The surname moved down 622 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,129 to #10,751.
FAQ
Odea surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Odea?
The surname Odea holds position #10,751 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,462 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.01 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Odea surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Odea, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.