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

Okabayashi, 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 Okabayashi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okabayashi in America

Okabayashi is the 111988th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okabayashi surname appeared 157 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 Okabayashi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okabayashi 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 Okabayashi

The surname Okabayashi is of Japanese origin, with its roots traced back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the Okayama prefecture in western Japan, where the Okabayashi clan resided.

The name Okabayashi is a combination of two Japanese words: "oka" meaning "hill" or "ridge," and "bayashi" meaning "plant" or "grove." This suggests that the surname may have originated from a geographical location characterized by hills or ridges covered with lush vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Okabayashi name can be found in the Edo period (1603-1868) records of the Okayama domain. During this time, the Okabayashi family held prominent positions within the local samurai hierarchy and served as retainers to the Ikeda clan, the ruling daimyo (feudal lords) of the region.

Notable figures bearing the Okabayashi surname include Okabayashi Masaki (1828-1888), a prominent educator and calligrapher who established one of the first modern schools in Japan. Okabayashi Kiyoshi (1899-1986) was a renowned architect known for his innovative designs that blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern architectural principles.

In the realm of literature, Okabayashi Shizuko (1914-1988) was a celebrated poet and author, whose works explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. Her poetic collections, such as "Hana no Kuni" (The Land of Flowers), received widespread acclaim and recognition.

The name Okabayashi also has ties to the samurai tradition. Okabayashi Masatomo (1556-1615) was a skilled swordsman and military strategist who served under the renowned Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Sengoku period (Warring States period).

Another notable figure is Okabayashi Hiroshi (1901-1983), a pioneering scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II. His work laid the foundation for advancements in modern telecommunications and navigation systems.

While the Okabayashi surname has its roots in Japan, it has since spread globally, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields, from academia to the arts, and from business to politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okabayashi

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

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

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

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