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

O'Su, 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 O'Su surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of O'Su in America

O'Su is the 66676th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Su surname appeared 277 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname O'Su.

The history of the last name O'Su

The surname OSU is believed to have origins from Japan, dating back to the feudal period. Historically, it is associated with the region of the Nagoya area, specifically within the Owari Province. The name is derived from the old Japanese term "Osu" which means "a little shallow bay" or "seashore," indicating a geographic connection to coastal areas or villages near the sea. The etymology suggests that families bearing this surname likely resided in or had ancestral ties to maritime communities.

Old manuscripts and historical records, such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, offer the earliest references to the name. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to the late Heian period, around the 11th century, where the name OSU appears in land and tax records, highlighting its existence as a family name tied to specific parcels of coastal land.

Kenjiro Osu (1560-1634) is a historically significant bearer of the name. He was a samurai who served under the Tokugawa shogunate and played a role in the Battle of Sekigahara, which paved the way for Tokugawa Ieyasu's rule over Japan. The prominence of Kenjiro Osu in historical texts provides evidence of the name's association with the warrior class during the feudal era.

Another notable person with the surname OSU was Kaoru Osu (1865-1929), a Meiji era politician and reformer. He was instrumental in the modernization of Japan's education system, advocating for Western-style educational reforms and influencing policy during a critical period of Japan’s modernization.

During the Edo period, the city of Nagoya grew significantly, and a district called Osu developed, contributing to the proliferation of the surname. This district was known for its temples and vibrant trade, fostering a community where the name OSU became synonymous with commerce and religious devotion.

In more modern history, Akira Osu (1932-2001) gained attention as a notable author and cultural critic, contributing significantly to Japanese literature and sociopolitical discourse in the 20th century.

More recently, but still within the historical context, Haruko Osu (b. 1942) became the first woman to hold a professorship in marine biology at the University of Tokyo, distinguishing herself in the scientific community and highlighting the continuation of the surname in contributing to academia and research.

These individuals and historical references illustrate the rich tapestry of the surname OSU, highlighting its origins, geographic connections, and the significant roles played by those bearing the name throughout Japanese history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name O'Su

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname O'Su.

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for O'Su 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.

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 O'Su was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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