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

Osage, 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 Osage surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osage in America

Osage is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osage surname appeared 100 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 Osage.

We can also compare 2010 data for Osage 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 Osage

The surname Osage originates from the Osage tribe of Native Americans, who inhabited the present-day states of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The name Osage is derived from the Osage language, which belongs to the Dhegiha branch of the Siouan language family.

The earliest known reference to the Osage people can be found in the accounts of French explorers and missionaries who encountered them in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The tribe's name was variously spelled as "Osage," "Ouchage," or "Auxage" in these historical records.

One of the earliest recorded Osage individuals was Clermont, a prominent chief who lived in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in establishing peaceful relations between the Osage and French colonists, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.

In the 19th century, several notable Osage figures emerged, including Shon-ga-tonga, also known as John Shalaquah or White Hair, who was a respected leader and negotiator. He was born around 1789 and died in 1858.

Another prominent Osage was Mohongo, or Mohongo Thanka, a skilled diplomat and warrior who served as the principal chief of the Little Osage band in the early 19th century. He was born around 1790 and died in 1836.

One of the most famous Osage individuals was Princess Blanc Plume, also known as Maria Tallchief. Born in 1925, she was a renowned prima ballerina and the first Native American to achieve international fame in the world of classical ballet.

In the realm of literature, John Joseph Mathews, an Osage author and historian, made significant contributions. Born in 1894 and died in 1979, he wrote several books documenting the history, culture, and traditions of the Osage people.

While the Osage surname is relatively uncommon outside of the Osage tribe and its descendants, it serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this Native American nation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osage

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

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

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

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