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

Otsuji, 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 Otsuji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Otsuji in America

Otsuji is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Otsuji surname appeared 112 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 Otsuji.

We can also compare 2010 data for Otsuji 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 Otsuji

The surname Otsuji originated in Japan, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 8th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese words "otsu" meaning "village" and "ji" meaning "temple," suggesting that the name may have been associated with families residing near or responsible for maintaining local temples or shrines.

During the Heian period (794-1185 AD), the Otsuji name was particularly prominent in the Kansai region, which includes modern-day Kyoto and Osaka. Several historical records from this era mention individuals bearing the Otsuji name, including Otsuji no Michiyori (934-997 AD), a renowned court noble and poet.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the Otsuji family held significant influence in the Iga region, known for its skilled practitioners of ninjutsu (the art of stealth and espionage). One notable figure was Otsuji Yoshitsugu (1227-1298 AD), a skilled warrior and strategist who played a crucial role in the defense against Mongol invasions.

As the name spread throughout Japan, regional variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. For instance, in the Tohoku region, the name was sometimes written as "Otsuchi," while in the Kyushu area, it was rendered as "Otsugi."

During the Edo period (1603-1868 AD), several Otsuji families attained samurai status and served as retainers to various daimyo (feudal lords). One prominent example was Otsuji Nobuyoshi (1599-1668 AD), a skilled swordsman and military strategist who served under the Tokugawa shogunate.

In more recent history, the Otsuji name has been associated with notable figures in various fields. Otsuji Kyoichi (1875-1957) was a pioneering Japanese chemist who made significant contributions to the development of industrial fermentation processes. Otsuji Masayuki (1914-1992) was a renowned sculptor and ceramicist, known for his innovative techniques and avant-garde style.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Otsuji

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

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

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

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