Explore the Family Name Oja
The meaning of Oja
Finnish: habitational name from farms so named, from oja ‘brook, creek’, with reference to their location. Established as a hereditary surname mostly since the 19th century, especially in southwestern Finland and central Ostrobothnia. The surname Oja is more common in Estonia than in Finland. In North America, it may also be a shortened form of the surname Ojala. Some characteristic forenames: Finnish Reino, Olavi, Onni, Toivo, Wilho, Arvo, Kaino, Niilo, Torsti, Veikko, Vieno, Waino. Scandinavian Erik.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Oja in the United States?
According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Oja has slightly decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Oja ranked as the 22,706th most popular surname in the U.S., but by 2010, it fell to 24,012th place, representing a decline of 5.75%. The total count of individuals with the Oja surname also experienced a slight drop from 1,056 in 2000 to 1,050 in 2010, a decrease of 0.57%. The proportion per 100,000 people similarly fell from 0.39 to 0.36, marking a 7.69% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,706 | #24,012 | -5.75% |
| Count | 1,056 | 1,050 | -0.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.36 | -7.69% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Oja
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Oja. In 2000, 91.86% of individuals with the Oja surname identified as White, which dropped slightly to 90.67% in 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Black also decreased during this period, falling by 25.78% and 22.76% respectively. However, the proportions of individuals associating with two or more races and Hispanic ethnicity increased significantly. The number of Oja individuals identifying as two or more races rose by 117.54%, while those identifying as Hispanic grew by 32.69%. The count for American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a modest increase of 8.77%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.86% | 90.67% | -1.3% |
| Hispanic | 2.08% | 2.76% | 32.69% |
| Two or More Races | 1.14% | 2.48% | 117.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.56% | 1.9% | -25.78% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.14% | 1.24% | 8.77% |
| Black | 1.23% | 0.95% | -22.76% |