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

Ouma, 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 Ouma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ouma in America

Ouma is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ouma surname appeared 143 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 Ouma.

The history of the last name Ouma

The surname "OUMA" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and northern Germany during the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old Dutch word "ouwe," which means "old" or "elder." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an elderly person or the eldest member of a family.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a historical document from the city of Amsterdam, dated 1572. This document mentions a certain "Jan Ouma," who was a merchant and citizen of the city. Another early reference comes from a baptismal record in the town of Groningen, dated 1599, which lists the birth of a child named "Geert Ouma."

In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Europe, particularly the Baltic region. In 1632, a Swedish military officer named "Erik Ouma" is mentioned in a chronicle of the Thirty Years' War. Later, in 1671, a man named "Johann Ouma" is recorded as a landowner in the Prussian town of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia).

One notable bearer of the name was the Dutch painter and etcher, Ludolf Bakhuizen (1631-1708), whose mother's maiden name was Ouma. Bakhuizen was renowned for his seascapes and maritime scenes, and some of his works can be found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Another individual of note was the German philosopher and historian, Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803). His paternal grandmother's maiden name was Ouma, and it is believed that this influenced his interest in folk culture and the study of language origins.

In the 19th century, the name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the Netherlands and Germany. One prominent figure was the Dutch theologian and writer, Gijsbert Ouma (1823-1892), who was known for his work on biblical exegesis and his advocacy for social reform.

While the name Ouma is not as common today as it once was, it continues to be found in various parts of Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Baltic states. However, due to its historical roots and interesting etymology, it remains a fascinating surname with a rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ouma

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

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

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

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