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

Onaka, 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 Onaka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onaka in America

Onaka is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onaka surname appeared 137 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 Onaka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onaka 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 Onaka

The surname Onaka is believed to have originated in Japan, although the exact time period and location of its origin are uncertain. The name may derive from the Japanese word "onaka," which means "stomach" or "belly," suggesting that it might have been a descriptive surname given to someone with a prominent stomach or a large appetite.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Onaka surname can be found in the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE) in Japan. During this time, it was common for families to adopt surnames based on personal characteristics, occupations, or locations. The Onaka name may have been given to a person or family with a connection to food or agriculture.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), there are records of several notable individuals bearing the Onaka surname. One such person was Onaka Masahiro (1632-1705), a prominent samurai and military strategist who served under the Tokugawa shogunate. Another was Onaka Tsunenori (1680-1741), a renowned painter and calligrapher whose works are still admired today.

Moving forward in history, the Onaka surname can be found in various regions of Japan. In the late 19th century, Onaka Kiyomitsu (1848-1920) was a prominent educator and philosopher who helped establish modern educational systems in Japan. He was also a proponent of the Westernization of Japanese society.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), Onaka Jiroku (1870-1936) was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Onaka Trading Company, which played a significant role in the development of international trade in Japan. Onaka Jiroku also donated a substantial portion of his wealth to educational and social causes.

In more recent times, the Onaka surname has been associated with various fields, including politics, sports, and entertainment. One notable figure is Onaka Takeshi (1932-2022), a former politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives in Japan for several terms.

It is important to note that the Onaka surname may have different origins or variations in other parts of the world, as surnames can evolve and change over time and across different cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onaka

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

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

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

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