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

Oura, 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 Oura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oura in America

Oura is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oura surname appeared 109 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 Oura.

The history of the last name Oura

The surname OURA originates from Finland, tracing its roots back to the early 17th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "oura," which translates to "furrow" or "groove," possibly referring to the occupation of the earliest bearers of this name as farmers or agricultural workers.

The name OURA was first recorded in the parish records of the Ostrobothnia region, located in western Finland. This area was known for its fertile lands and thriving farming communities, lending credence to the theory of the name's agricultural origins.

One of the earliest documented instances of the OURA surname can be found in the 1624 census records of the village of Kauhava, where a farmer named Matti Oura is listed as a landowner. This record provides valuable insight into the name's longevity and its association with the rural landscape of Finland.

In the late 18th century, the OURA name gained prominence when Jaakko Oura (1730-1803), a prominent Finnish merchant and ship owner, established a successful trading company in the city of Raahe. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the region's economic and cultural spheres.

Another notable figure bearing the OURA surname was Matti Oura (1856-1932), a Finnish politician and journalist who served as a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1907 to 1917. He was a vocal advocate for the rights of Finnish-speaking citizens and played a pivotal role in the country's struggle for independence.

During the 19th century, the OURA name began to spread beyond Finland's borders. In 1876, a Finnish immigrant named Erik Oura (1842-1912) settled in the town of Ishpeming, Michigan, where he worked as a miner and became a respected member of the local Finnish community.

Another notable bearer of the OURA surname was the Finnish artist Kaarlo Oura (1873-1938), known for his vibrant landscape paintings depicting the rugged beauty of his homeland. His works are celebrated as an important part of Finland's cultural heritage and can be found in numerous art galleries and museums across the country.

While the OURA surname originated in Finland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Finnish emigrants and their descendants. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the agricultural traditions and rural landscapes of its homeland, a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oura

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!