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

Oko, 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 Oko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oko in America

Oko is the 66754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oko surname appeared 296 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 Oko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oko 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 Oko

The surname OKO is believed to have originated in Poland, where it first appeared in historical records during the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Polish word "oko," meaning "eye," possibly referring to a physical characteristic or occupation related to vision or watchfulness.

One of the earliest documented references to the OKO surname can be found in a medieval manuscript from the city of Krakow, dated around 1275. This document mentions a merchant named Jakub OKO, who traded in textiles and spices.

In the 14th century, the OKO name appeared in several land ownership records in the region of Silesia, which at the time was part of the Kingdom of Poland. These records indicate that families bearing the OKO surname were landowners and likely part of the local nobility or gentry.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the OKO surname was Jan OKO (1523-1590), a Polish scholar and humanist who studied at the University of Krakow and later became a professor of rhetoric and philosophy.

In the 17th century, a place name associated with the OKO surname emerged in the village of Okowin, located in the Masovian Voivodeship of central Poland. It is possible that the surname derived its name from this locality or vice versa.

Another significant individual with the OKO surname was Stanislaw OKO (1658-1722), a Polish military commander who fought in the Great Northern War against Sweden. He rose to the rank of General and played a crucial role in several battles.

As the OKO surname spread across Poland and into neighboring regions, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Okos, Okow, and Okovich, reflecting regional dialects and language influences.

Throughout the centuries, the OKO surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, politicians, and religious figures, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Poland and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oko

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

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

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

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