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

Oquain, 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 Oquain surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oquain in America

Oquain is the 72771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oquain surname appeared 267 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 Oquain.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oquain 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 Oquain

The surname OQUAIN has its origins traced back to the ancient kingdoms of Ireland, particularly in the regions of County Kerry and Cork. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "ó" meaning "grandson" or "descendant" and "Cuain," an old Irish personal name. The name OQUAIN essentially translates to "descendant of Cuan."

One of the earliest recorded references to the OQUAIN surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a prominent surname in Ireland by that time.

In the 16th century, the OQUAIN family held significant influence and land holdings in the Barony of Iveragh, located in the southwestern part of County Kerry. Notable members from this period include Dermot OQUAIN, a respected chieftain and landowner who played a role in the Desmond Rebellions against English rule in the 1570s.

As the OQUAIN surname spread throughout Ireland, various spellings emerged over time, such as O'Quain, O'Quin, and O'Kyne. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the impact of anglicization on Irish surnames.

One notable figure bearing the OQUAIN surname was Patrick OQUAIN, a Catholic priest and historian who lived in the 18th century. He is known for his work "Historians of Ireland," which documented the lives of Irish scholars and writers from ancient times to the 17th century.

In the 19th century, James OQUAIN, born in 1825, gained recognition as a successful merchant and philanthropist in Dublin. He established a charitable foundation that supported educational initiatives for underprivileged children.

Another prominent individual was Michael OQUAIN, born in 1867, who was a respected poet and playwright from County Cork. His works celebrated Irish culture and folklore, contributing to the literary renaissance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

As the OQUAIN surname spread beyond Ireland through emigration, it also found its way to other parts of the world. For instance, John OQUAIN, born in 1892, was a prominent businessman and community leader in New York City in the early 20th century.

While the OQUAIN surname may not be as widely known as some other Irish surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic heritage of Ireland, with notable individuals leaving their mark across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oquain

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

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

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

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