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

Oni, 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 Oni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oni in America

Oni is the 43651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oni surname appeared 494 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 Oni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oni 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 Oni

The surname "Oni" is of Japanese origin, derived from the word "oni" which means "demon" or "ogre" in Japanese folklore. The name likely originated during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, when surnames became more common among the general population.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Oni" can be found in the Edo-period records of the Shogunate, where it appears as a family name in several villages and towns across Japan. The name may have been initially given to families who lived in remote or isolated areas, perhaps reflecting the perceived "demonic" or otherworldly nature of their surroundings.

In the late 18th century, an Oni family is mentioned in the records of the Matsumae Domain, located in present-day Hokkaido, Japan. This family is believed to have been among the first settlers of the region, which was then considered a harsh and untamed wilderness.

Notable individuals with the surname "Oni" include Oni Masatoshi (1832-1890), a prominent samurai and military commander during the Bakumatsu period, who played a crucial role in the Boshin War that led to the Meiji Restoration. Another notable figure is Oni Takehiko (1865-1932), a poet and literary scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation of traditional Japanese poetry forms.

In the early 20th century, Oni Kenji (1901-1977) was a renowned artist and printmaker, known for his intricate woodblock prints depicting traditional Japanese themes and landscapes. His works are housed in various museums and galleries around the world.

During World War II, Oni Masaru (1920-1945) was a naval aviator who fought in the Pacific Theater. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the Golden Kite for his bravery and sacrifice during the Battle of Okinawa.

More recently, Oni Yuki (1955-present) is a celebrated author and journalist, known for her novels and non-fiction works exploring contemporary Japanese society and culture.

While the surname "Oni" may have originated from a word associated with demons or ogres, it has come to represent a rich cultural heritage and history in Japan, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oni

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

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

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

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