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

Ogawa, 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 Ogawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ogawa in America

Ogawa is the 15508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ogawa surname appeared 1,887 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 Ogawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ogawa 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 Ogawa

The surname Ogawa originates from Japan, with its earliest recorded history dating back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Japanese words "o" meaning "small" and "gawa" meaning "river," suggesting that the name may have originated from a family or clan living near a small river or stream.

During the Heian period (794-1185 AD), the Ogawa name was recorded in several historical documents and manuscripts related to aristocratic families and samurai clans. One notable mention is found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early 9th-century imperial chronicle, which references an Ogawa serving as a courtier in the imperial palace.

In the 12th century, a branch of the Ogawa family settled in the Shizuoka Prefecture, where they established themselves as wealthy landowners and influential figures in the region. The Ogawa name is also associated with several prominent Buddhist temples and shrines, such as the Ogawa-dera in Kyoto, dating back to the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Ogawa surname was Ogawa no Takafusa (1173-1233), a renowned samurai and military strategist who served under the Kamakura shogunate. He played a crucial role in the Genpei War and the establishment of the Kamakura bakufu (shogunate).

Another notable figure was Ogawa Kazumasa (1516-1572), a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled over the Ogawa Domain in present-day Saitama Prefecture during the Sengoku period. He was known for his military prowess and his support for the renowned warlord Uesugi Kenshin.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the Ogawa name gained prominence among samurai families and scholars. One such individual was Ogawa Shokan (1809-1888), a renowned Confucian scholar and educator who established the Ogawa Academy, a prestigious school that trained many influential intellectuals and officials.

During the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), the Ogawa family continued to play a significant role in Japanese society. Ogawa Masahito (1872-1933) was a prominent politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United States.

Another notable figure was Ogawa Machiko (1911-1999), a renowned author and playwright who explored themes of gender, identity, and societal norms in her works. Her play "Hakucha no Ie" (The House of Butterflies) is considered a masterpiece of modern Japanese literature.

Throughout its long history, the Ogawa surname has been associated with various influential individuals, from samurai warriors and feudal lords to scholars, artists, and politicians, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse contributions of this Japanese family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ogawa

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

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

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

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