Explore the Family Name Obi
The meaning of Obi
1. West African (Nigeria): Igbo name, from the title obì, denoting either an elder or a chief, a traditional Igbo king. 2. West African (Nigeria): Igbo name, from a short form personal name such as Obialo, which is interpreted as e.g. ‘the heart is at peace’. 3. Japanese: written 小尾 ‘small tail’, possibly denoting the lower slope of a mountain; the name could possibly mean 帯 ‘sash’ as well. It is not common in Japan, and could be a habitational name, from a castle in Hyūga (now Miyazaki prefecture), though the castle’s name is written 飫肥. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hideo, Naoki.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Obi in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Obi showed a notable increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked 25,657th most popular, but by 2010 it had climbed to the 19,296th spot, representing a 24.79% change. The total count of people with this surname also experienced growth from 903 in 2000 to 1,403 in 2010 — an increase of 55.37%. Consequently, the proportion of individuals named Obi per 100,000 people rose from 0.33 to 0.48.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,657 | #19,296 | 24.79% |
| Count | 903 | 1,403 | 55.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.48 | 45.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Obi
In terms of ethnic identity, the census data paints a fascinating picture. As of 2000, the leading ethnicity associated with the Obi surname was Black, at 78.29%. This percentage increased to 85.17% by 2010. Conversely, the representation of the surname within other ethnic groups declined over the same period. For instance, the percentage of people with the Obi surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased by 35.42%. Similarly, those identifying as Two or more races and White saw their percentages drop by 49.25% and 29.18% respectively. The Hispanic group and American Indian and Alaskan Native group also witnessed a decrease of 12.90% and 32.73%, respectively. This data is reflective of the changes in the distribution of the Obi surname among different ethnic groups in the United States, as captured by the Decennial U.S. Census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 78.29% | 85.17% | 8.79% |
| White | 11.07% | 7.84% | -29.18% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 4.98% | 3.35% | -32.73% |
| Two or More Races | 2.66% | 1.35% | -49.25% |
| Hispanic | 1.55% | 1.35% | -12.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.44% | 0.93% | -35.42% |