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

Ooka, 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 Ooka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ooka in America

Ooka is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ooka surname appeared 128 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 Ooka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ooka 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 Ooka

The surname OOKA is believed to have originated in Japan during the medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Japanese word "oka," which means "hill" or "small mountain." This suggests that the OOKA surname may have initially referred to someone who lived on or near a hill or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the OOKA surname dates back to the late 16th century, when it appeared in a local census record from the Kyoto region. During this time, surnames were becoming more widely adopted in Japan, and many were based on geographic features or occupations.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the OOKA surname was Ooka Tadasuke (1677-1752), a renowned scholar and philosopher who served as a judicial advisor to the Tokugawa Shogunate. His influential writings on ethics and governance are still studied today.

Another prominent individual with the OOKA surname was Ooka Shunboku (1680-1763), a renowned artist and calligrapher who is celebrated for his intricate and elegant brush paintings. His works are displayed in several museums and collections throughout Japan.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), the OOKA surname was also found in various parts of Japan, including the regions of Shizuoka and Hiroshima. In some areas, the name may have been associated with specific villages or towns, such as Ookamura or Ookajima.

In the late 19th century, a famous Japanese diplomat and statesman named Ooka Echizen (1857-1937) played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and strengthening international relations between Japan and other countries.

Another notable figure with the OOKA surname was Ooka Makoto (1858-1936), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of Japan's first schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for women during a time when such efforts were rare.

While the OOKA surname may not be among the most common in Japan today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with various notable individuals who have contributed to various fields, including philosophy, art, diplomacy, and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ooka

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!