2000
#135,837
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Otsubo
A Japanese surname referencing the inner moat surrounding a castle.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Otsubo. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Otsubo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Otsubo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Otsubo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.5%. The next largest groups are White (5.8%) and Two or More Races (5.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Otsubo
The surname OTSUBO originated in Japan, with roots dating back to the 8th century. It is derived from the Japanese words "otsu" meaning "harbor" and "bo" meaning "grave," suggesting a connection to a place where sailors or fishermen were laid to rest.
During the Nara and Heian periods (710-1185), the OTSUBO name appeared in local records and manuscripts, indicating its presence among noble families and samurai clans. One of the earliest documented instances is Otsubo no Fumiyoshi, a renowned poet who lived during the late 9th century.
In the 12th century, the OTSUBO name gained prominence with Otsubo Kunitsuna, a powerful samurai warrior who served under the Minamoto clan during the Gempei War. His bravery and loyalty were celebrated in the historical chronicle "Heike Monogatari."
By the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the OTSUBO clan had established themselves as landowners and administrators in the Kanto region, particularly in the area now known as Ibaraki Prefecture. The name is associated with several notable figures from this era, including Otsubo Masayoshi, a skilled diplomat and scholar.
In the Edo period (1603-1868), the OTSUBO family continued to hold influential positions within the Tokugawa shogunate. One notable figure was Otsubo Hikozaemon, a renowned swordsmith who crafted blades for the shogun's retainers in the late 17th century.
Another prominent individual was Otsubo Michitaka, a celebrated Kabuki actor who lived from 1719 to 1786. His performances in the traditional theater art form captivated audiences across Japan and earned him widespread recognition.
Throughout its long history, the OTSUBO surname has been associated with various professions, from samurai warriors and government officials to artists and craftsmen. While its origins can be traced back to a specific geographic location, the name has since spread across Japan, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Otsubo
Among Census respondents with the surname Otsubo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.5%. The next largest groups are White (5.8%) and Two or More Races (5.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Otsubo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Otsubo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander87.5% · 105
- White5.8% · 7
- Two or more races5.0% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Otsubo
Otsubo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#142,108
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,271 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 59 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #135,837 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #142,108 | 117 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Down 6,271 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Up 59 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Otsubo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #142,108 | #142,049 | 0.0% |
| Count | 117 | 120 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Otsubo bearers went from 117 to 120 (+2.6% change). The surname moved up 59 positions in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #142,049.
FAQ
Otsubo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Otsubo?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Otsubo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Otsubo?
Otsubo ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Otsubo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Otsubo.
Has Otsubo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Otsubo went from 117 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 3 (+2.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #142,108 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Otsubo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Otsubo, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.5%. The next largest groups are White (5.8%) and Two or More Races (5.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Otsubo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.5% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Otsubo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (87.5%), White (5.8%), Two or More Races (5.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Otsubo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Otsubo mean?
A Japanese surname referencing the inner moat surrounding a castle. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Otsubo (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Otsubo?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.