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

Otsu, 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 Otsu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Otsu in America

Otsu is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Otsu surname appeared 139 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 Otsu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Otsu 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 Otsu

The surname Otsu is of Japanese origin and dates back to the Heian period (794-1185 AD). It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "otsu," which means "village" or "small town." This suggests that the name may have originally been a topographic surname, given to someone who lived in a particular village or town.

One of the earliest known references to the name Otsu can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early Japanese historical text from the 8th century. This text mentions an individual named Otsu no Kuronushi, who was a high-ranking official during the reign of Emperor Kanmu.

Another notable historical figure with the surname Otsu was Otsu no Masahiro (1273-1351), a prominent samurai and military commander who served under the Kamakura shogunate. He played a significant role in the wars against the Mongol invasions of Japan in the late 13th century.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Otsu family emerged as a powerful clan in the Kyoto region. They were known for their involvement in the arts, particularly in the development of Noh theater and traditional Japanese gardens.

In the 16th century, Otsu Sōrin (1519-1585) was a renowned Buddhist monk and scholar who played a crucial role in reviving and preserving the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism in Japan.

Otsu Yoshihiro (1834-1914) was a prominent educator and philosopher during the Meiji era. He was instrumental in establishing modern educational systems in Japan and promoting Western learning and ideas.

It is worth noting that the name Otsu has also been associated with various place names in Japan, such as Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture, which was an important center of trade and commerce during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Throughout history, the surname Otsu has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including samurai, monks, scholars, and educators, reflecting the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Otsu

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

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

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

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