Onizuka
An uncommon Japanese surname derived from "oni" meaning demon or ogre, and "zuka" meaning small hill.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Onizuka. That puts it at #131,379 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Onizuka surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#131,379
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
129
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 129 bearers of the surname Onizuka in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 131379th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Onizuka, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.4%) and White (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Onizuka
The surname Onizuka has its origins in Japan, where it first emerged during the feudal period of the 12th to 19th centuries. The name is derived from the Japanese words "oni" meaning demon or ogre, and "zuka" meaning mound or hill. This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near a hill or mound associated with ogres or demons in Japanese folklore.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Onizuka name appears in the Kamakura period (1185–1333) samurai records, where a warrior named Onizuka Takeshi is mentioned for his bravery in battle. Another notable individual was Onizuka Kiyohiro, a 16th-century Buddhist monk and calligrapher renowned for his exquisite brush work.
During the Edo period (1603–1867), the Onizuka family was prominent in the Iga region of present-day Mie Prefecture, where they served as skilled ninja and spies for various daimyo lords. One famous member was Onizuka Masahiro (1620–1697), who was said to have infiltrated enemy castles and acquired valuable intelligence through his stealth and cunning.
In the late 19th century, as Japan underwent rapid modernization, the Onizuka name began to spread beyond its traditional strongholds. Onizuka Tomotada (1845–1910) was a pioneering educator who established one of the first modern schools in Osaka, paving the way for the country's educational reforms.
Another notable figure was Onizuka Hiroshi (1892–1945), a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in Tokyo, including the former headquarters of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu and the Nihon University College of Art.
In more recent times, the name gained international recognition with the astronaut Ellison Onizuka (1946–1986), the first Asian-American and the first Hawaiian to reach space. Tragically, he perished in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, but his legacy as a pioneering explorer lives on.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Onizuka
Among Census respondents with the surname Onizuka, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.4%) and White (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Onizuka bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Onizuka surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander86.8%
- Two or more races5.4%
- White3.9%
- Hispanic or Latino3.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Onizuka surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131,379 | #131,379 | 0.0% |
| Count | 129 | 129 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Onizuka bearers went from 129 to 129 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #131,379.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Onizuka
FAQ
Onizuka surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Onizuka?
The surname Onizuka holds position #131,379 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Onizuka surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Onizuka, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.4%) and White (3.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.