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

Okun, 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 Okun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okun in America

Okun is the 24370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okun surname appeared 1,028 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 Okun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okun 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 Okun

The surname Okun is of Russian origin, with its roots traced back to the 17th century. It is derived from the Russian word "okun," which means "perch," a freshwater fish commonly found in the rivers and lakes of the region.

The earliest known records of the Okun surname can be found in the imperial archives of Moscow, where it appears as a surname given to families residing in the vicinity of the Oka River, a major tributary of the Volga River. The name was likely bestowed upon individuals who were involved in fishing or lived in close proximity to areas abundant with perch.

One of the earliest documented references to the Okun surname can be found in the "Ruzskaya Kniga" (The Book of Ruza), a historical document dating back to the 16th century. This manuscript contains records of landholdings and taxation in the Ruza region, located west of Moscow, and includes several entries mentioning individuals with the surname Okun.

In the 18th century, the Okun surname gained prominence with the birth of Nikolai Okun (1717-1788), a Russian statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1763 to 1768. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in strengthening the relations between Russia and the Ottoman Empire during a period of political tensions.

Another notable figure bearing the Okun surname was Andrei Okun (1833-1901), a Russian military officer and explorer. He was known for his expeditions to Central Asia and his contributions to the mapping and exploration of the region.

In the 20th century, the name Okun gained international recognition with the birth of Lev Okun (1929-2015), a renowned Russian-American theoretical physicist. He made significant contributions to the field of particle physics and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Okun surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Russia. For instance, the village of Okunevka in the Kaluga Oblast (region) and the Okunev River in the Krasnoyarsk Krai (territory) are believed to be derived from the word "okun," further solidifying the connection between the surname and its etymological roots.

While the Okun surname has its origins in Russia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Nevertheless, the name remains deeply rooted in Russian culture and history, serving as a reminder of the country's rich heritage and the importance of fishing in its traditional way of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okun

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

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

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

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