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

Okain, 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 Okain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okain in America

Okain is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okain surname appeared 142 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 Okain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okain 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 Okain

The surname Okain has its origins in Ireland, emerging during the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic personal name "Ó Cadháin," which means "descendant of Cadhán." Cadhán was a common first name among the Irish during that period, and it is believed to have stemmed from the Old Irish word "cadan," meaning "wild goose."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Okain surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Muiris Ó Cadhán, who lived in the late 15th century and was a respected poet and historian.

The Okain surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Donegal and Sligo, located in the northwestern part of Ireland. In these regions, the name was often anglicized to various spellings, such as O'Cain, Cain, and Kane, due to the influence of English language and cultural assimilation.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Okain family played a significant role in Irish society. One notable individual was Seán Ó Cadhán, born in 1590, who was a prominent leader and chieftain in County Donegal. Another notable figure was Éamonn Ó Cadhán, born in 1620, who was a renowned scholar and poet renowned for his works in the Irish language.

In the 18th century, the Okain surname gained recognition beyond Ireland's borders. John O'Cain, born in 1732 in County Sligo, was a prominent merchant and trader who established successful business ventures in the West Indies and Britain. Additionally, Michael O'Cain, born in 1765 in County Donegal, was a distinguished soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and attained the rank of Colonel in the British Army.

As the centuries progressed, the Okain surname spread across various parts of the world, carried by Irish emigrants seeking new opportunities. Prominent individuals bearing this name include Francis O'Cain, born in 1820 in County Donegal, who was a respected educator and founded several schools in the United States during the mid-19th century.

While the Okain surname has undergone various spelling variations and adaptations, its Irish origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the annals of Irish history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okain

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

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

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

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