Explore the Family Name Okawa
The meaning of Okawa
Japanese (Ōkawa): written 大川 ‘large river’. It is found mostly in eastern Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hiroshi, Hiroya, Michiko, Akira, Hidefumi, Itsuo, Junichi, Junko, Kaoru, Kazushi, Kiyomi, Kiyoshi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Okawa in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Okawa has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, its rank was 60,230, but by 2010 it had risen to 59,171, marking a growth rate of 1.76%. In terms of count, there were 313 individuals with this surname in 2000, which grew to 342 by 2010, indicating a rise of 9.27%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.12.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #60,230 | #59,171 | 1.76% |
| Count | 313 | 342 | 9.27% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Okawa
In regards to ethnicity, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the surname Okawa identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decline from 86.90% to 85.67%. The percentage identifying with two or more races also saw a minor decrease from 8.31% to 8.19%. The proportion identifying as White fell noticeably from 4.15% to 3.22%, while those identifying as Hispanic rose from 0% in 2000 to 2.34% in 2010. No change was noted for individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 86.9% | 85.67% | -1.42% |
| Two or More Races | 8.31% | 8.19% | -1.44% |
| White | 4.15% | 3.22% | -22.41% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.34% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |