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

Oh, 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 Oh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oh in America

Oh is the 1978th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oh surname appeared 18,285 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Oh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oh 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 Oh

The surname Oh has its origins in Korea, where it can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Korean word "oh," which means "jade" or "precious stone." The name is believed to have been first adopted by families who were involved in the jade trade or worked as jade artisans.

In the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), the Oh surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong, where many jade mines and workshops were located. The name can be found in various historical records from this period, including genealogical records and local records.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Oh surname dates back to the 15th century, when a man named Oh Seung-hun (1425-1493) served as a renowned scholar and government official during the reign of King Sejo. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Korean writing system, Hangul.

Another notable figure with the Oh surname was Oh Yun-ho (1571-1641), a prominent scholar and writer who lived during the Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his works on Confucian philosophy and his poetry, which have been preserved and studied for generations.

In the late 19th century, Oh Yun-jung (1848-1896) was a pioneering educator and activist who advocated for the modernization of Korea's education system. He played a significant role in the establishment of the first modern schools in the country.

During the Korean Empire (1897-1910), Oh Sae-chon (1864-1916) was a prominent politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was instrumental in negotiating treaties and establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries.

In the 20th century, Oh Yeong-su (1924-2022) was a renowned actor and filmmaker who left an indelible mark on Korean cinema. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the country's film industry and has received numerous awards and accolades for his work.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the Oh surname throughout history, illustrating the rich cultural and historical significance of this Korean name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oh

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

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

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

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