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

Okamoto, 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 Okamoto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okamoto in America

Okamoto is the 12944th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okamoto surname appeared 2,373 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 Okamoto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okamoto 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 Okamoto

The surname Okamoto is of Japanese origin, with roots dating back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the combination of two Japanese words: "oka" meaning "hill" or "highland," and "moto" meaning "origin" or "source." This suggests that the name likely originated from a family or clan that hailed from a hilly or mountainous region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Okamoto name can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an imperial chronicle compiled in the late 8th century. It mentions an individual named Okamoto no Tsunenori, who served as a court official during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the Okamoto family is believed to have been influential landowners in the Kanto region, particularly in the area now known as Saitama Prefecture. Historical records from this era indicate that the Okamoto clan played a significant role in local governance and military affairs.

In the 16th century, a samurai named Okamoto Kiyooki (1543-1610) gained recognition for his bravery and leadership during the Sengoku period. He served under the renowned warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which marked the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Another notable figure with the Okamoto surname was Okamoto Toru (1810-1876), a scholar and educator who helped establish modern educational systems in Japan during the Meiji Restoration period. He was instrumental in introducing Western learning and teaching methods to Japan.

In the 20th century, Okamoto Taro (1911-1996) gained prominence as a renowned Japanese artist and sculptor. His works, such as the "Tower of the Sun" and "Myth of Tomorrow," are widely recognized for their unique and avant-garde style, reflecting his exploration of the human condition and the fusion of Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

While the Okamoto surname has its origins in Japan, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the rich history and cultural significance of this name remain deeply rooted in its Japanese heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okamoto

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!