Ono
A Japanese surname meaning "small field," likely referring to the size or location of an ancestral agricultural holding.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,502 Americans carry the last name Ono. That puts it at #14,050 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.73 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 136,992 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ono 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
2.5K
1 in 136,992
Census rank
#14,050
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,143 bearers of the surname Ono in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.73 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14050th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ono, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (6.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ono
The surname ONO is of Japanese origin, dating back to the 10th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "ono," which means "axe" or "hatchet." This connection suggests that the name may have originated from a family or individual involved in woodworking or forestry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ono can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an imperial chronicle from the 8th century. The name appears in reference to a samurai warrior named Ono no Azumabito, who served under the Japanese Emperor Kammu during the late Nara period.
In the 12th century, the Ono family gained prominence as a powerful clan in the Musashi Province (present-day Saitama Prefecture). Several members of the Ono clan held influential positions within the shogunate and the imperial court during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Ono name was associated with various daimyo (feudal lords) and samurai families. One notable figure was Ono Tadaaki (1598-1645), a daimyo of the Hachinohe Domain in northern Honshu. Another prominent individual was Ono Harunaga (1702-1764), a scholar and poet who served as a retainer to the Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige.
In more recent history, the Ono surname has been carried by several notable individuals, including:
1. Ono no Komachi (c. 825-900), a renowned Japanese waka poet from the Heian period.
2. Ono Azusa (1891-1942), a Japanese feminist and activist who advocated for women's rights and education.
3. Ono Yoko (born 1933), a multimedia artist and activist, best known as the widow of John Lennon and her involvement in the anti-war movement.
4. Ono Masatsugu (1904-1994), a Japanese film director and screenwriter who played a significant role in the development of the Japanese cinema.
5. Ono Daisuke (born 1988), a Japanese professional baseball player who currently plays for the Orix Buffaloes in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
While the Ono surname can be found in various regions of Japan, it is particularly concentrated in the prefectures of Saitama, Tokyo, and Kanagawa, reflecting its historical roots in the Kanto region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ono
Among Census respondents with the surname Ono, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (6.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Ono 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 Ono surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander80.6%
- Two or more races8.2%
- White6.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ono 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 | #14,050 | #14,050 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,143 | 2,143 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.73 | 0.73 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ono bearers went from 2,143 to 2,143 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #14,050 to #14,050.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ono
FAQ
Ono surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ono?
The surname Ono holds position #14,050 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,502 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.73 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ono surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ono, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (8.2%) and White (6.8%). 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.