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

Ouye, 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 Ouye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ouye in America

Ouye is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ouye surname appeared 152 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 Ouye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ouye 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 Ouye

The surname "OUYE" is believed to have originated in Japan during the late 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Japanese word "ouyu," which means "ocean" or "sea." This suggests that the name may have been given to families who lived near the coast or worked in maritime professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "OUYE" can be found in the Edo period (1603-1868) records of the Shogunate. These records mention an individual named Ouye Nobuyuki, who was a samurai warrior and retainer of the Tokugawa clan. Nobuyuki was born in 1598 and died in 1672, having served under three different shoguns during his lifetime.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), the surname "OUYE" gained further recognition with the birth of Ouye Toshiro in 1871. Toshiro was a prominent businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan's textile industry. He established several successful textile mills and was instrumental in introducing Western manufacturing techniques to Japan.

Another notable individual with the surname "OUYE" was Ouye Keisuke, a renowned painter and calligrapher who lived from 1833 to 1904. Keisuke was renowned for his exceptional skill in the traditional Japanese art forms of sumi-e (ink wash painting) and shodo (calligraphy). His works are highly regarded and can be found in numerous museums and private collections throughout Japan.

In the early 20th century, Ouye Masatsugu (1877-1945) made a name for himself as a respected politician and diplomat. He served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Japanese Diet and also held various diplomatic positions, including that of the Japanese ambassador to the United States from 1928 to 1932.

Another notable figure with the surname "OUYE" was Ouye Shizuko (1920-2008), a celebrated author and novelist. Shizuko's works focused on exploring the human condition and the complexities of relationships. Her novel "The Seashore" received critical acclaim and was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1963.

While the surname "OUYE" is not among the most common in Japan, it has a rich history and has been borne by many distinguished individuals throughout the centuries. The name's connection to the ocean and maritime traditions provides a glimpse into the lives and occupations of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ouye

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

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

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

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