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

Oka, 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 Oka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oka in America

Oka is the 27732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oka surname appeared 867 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 Oka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oka 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 Oka

The surname Oka has its origins in Japan, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 8th century CE. It is derived from the Japanese word "oka," which means "hill" or "small mountain." This suggests that the name was originally given to families who lived in hilly or mountainous regions.

During the Heian period (794-1185 CE), the name Oka appears in several historical records and literature. One notable example is the Kokin Wakashū, an anthology of Japanese poetry compiled in the early 10th century. The anthology includes works by poets with the surname Oka, indicating the name's prevalence among the aristocracy and literary circles of the time.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the Oka family gained prominence as samurai warriors and feudal lords. The Oka clan was particularly influential in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, where they controlled several domains and played a significant role in regional politics and military affairs.

One of the earliest recorded Oka individuals was Oka Masako, a renowned Buddhist nun and poet who lived from 1265 to 1338 CE. Her literary works, particularly her waka poetry, have been widely studied and celebrated in Japan.

Another notable figure with the surname Oka was Oka Nobunaga, a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) who lived from 1558 to 1614 CE. He was a key player in the Sengoku period, a tumultuous era of civil war and political upheaval in Japan. Oka Nobunaga's military exploits and strategic alliances helped shape the course of Japanese history during this time.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the Oka family continued to hold influential positions in various domains across Japan. One prominent member was Oka Masanao (1670-1738 CE), a renowned scholar and advisor to the Tokugawa shogunate. His contributions to education and Confucian philosophy were highly regarded during his lifetime.

During the Meiji Restoration (1868 CE) and the subsequent modernization of Japan, the Oka surname remained prominent in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. Oka Takazumi (1835-1898 CE) was a influential statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in establishing Japan's modern diplomatic relations with Western nations.

Throughout its history, the surname Oka has maintained a strong presence in Japan, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the enduring significance of family names in Japanese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oka

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

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

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

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