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

Okubo, 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 Okubo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okubo in America

Okubo is the 31554th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okubo surname appeared 733 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 Okubo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okubo 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 Okubo

The surname Okubo is of Japanese origin, derived from the place name "Okubo" which means "inner village" or "inner territory." It is believed to have originated during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) in Japan.

The name Okubo can be traced back to several historical records and documents from the medieval period in Japan. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Azuma Kagami, a historical text compiled in the late 13th century, which mentions an individual named Okubo Toshitsuna.

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the Okubo clan was a prominent samurai family that held significant influence in the Kanto region of Japan. They were known for their military prowess and played a role in various conflicts and battles during this era.

One notable figure with the surname Okubo was Okubo Toshimichi (1830-1878), a prominent statesman and one of the principal architects of the Meiji Restoration. He played a crucial role in modernizing Japan and establishing a centralized government after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Another historical figure was Okubo Hikozaemon (1616-1706), a renowned potter and one of the most influential ceramic artists of the Edo period. He is credited with reviving and refining the traditional Seto pottery style, which became highly valued and sought after by tea connoisseurs and collectors.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Okubo family was also associated with the Okudaira clan, a prominent feudal clan that ruled the Nakatsu Domain (present-day Oita Prefecture). Some members of the Okudaira clan adopted the surname Okubo as a branch family name.

Another notable individual with the surname Okubo was Okubo Hikobei (1795-1855), a renowned scholar and educator who played a significant role in promoting Western studies and introducing new educational methods to Japan during the late Edo period.

The surname Okubo continues to be present in Japan today, with many bearers of the name scattered across various regions and prefectures, carrying on the legacy and history associated with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okubo

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Okubo, 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!