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

Okura, 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 Okura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okura in America

Okura is the 69170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okura surname appeared 284 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 Okura.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okura 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 Okura

The surname Okura has its roots in Japan, originating sometime during the Kamakura period (1185–1333 CE). It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "oku," meaning "inner" or "interior," and "ra," a common suffix used in forming place names. This suggests the name may have originated as a place name, referring to an interior or secluded location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Okura name appears in the Azuma Kagami, a historical record of the Kamakura shogunate, which mentions an Okura Mitsumasa serving as a samurai warrior in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Okura Nagayoshi, a 16th-century daimyo (feudal lord) who governed the Okura Domain in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture.

In the 17th century, the Okura family gained prominence as successful merchants and financiers during the Edo period (1603–1867). One of the most famous members was Okura Kihachiro (1837–1928), a wealthy businessman who founded the Okura zaibatsu (conglomerate) and the renowned Okura Hotel chain.

The name Okura has also been linked to various place names throughout Japan, such as Okura Village in Akita Prefecture and Okura District in Nagoya City. Some of these place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as was common in Japan's feudal era.

Other notable individuals with the surname Okura include:

1. Okura Kikusaburo (1752–1830), a renowned Japanese painter and calligrapher of the Edo period.
2. Okura Toshitaka (1794–1857), a Japanese feudal lord and samurai who served the Tokugawa shogunate.
3. Okura Masujiro (1857–1938), a Japanese entrepreneur and founder of the Okura Trading Company.
4. Okura Norio (1924–2012), a Japanese ceramic artist and Living National Treasure of Japan.
5. Okura Kazuo (born 1951), a Japanese manga artist and illustrator known for his work on the series "Kidou Senshi Gundam."

The surname Okura has a rich history rooted in Japan's feudal era, with connections to samurai warriors, daimyo lords, successful merchants, and prominent figures in various fields such as art, literature, and business.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okura

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

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

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

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