Explore the Family Name Oyama

The meaning of Oyama

Japanese: 1. written 小山 ‘small mountain’. Another common pronunciation is Koyama; both are found throughout Japan. One family is descended from Fujiwara no Hidesato (10th century), of the northern branch of the Fujiwara clan. 2. (Ōyama): written 大山 ‘large mountain’. It is listed in the Shinsen shōjiroku. Some bearers have samurai connections. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hiroki, Junichi, Noboru, Shigeru, Tadao, Takashi, Akira, Chiaki, Fumio, Hideko, Hiroshi, Isami.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Oyama in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the Oyama surname saw a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 22,891 but dropped to 25,640 by 2010, marking a 12.01% decrease. The total count of individuals with this surname also decreased from 1,044 in 2000 to 962 in 2010, a 7.85% decline. Consequently, the proportion of people per 100,000 carrying the Oyama surname fell by 15.38%.

20002010Change
Rank#22,891#25,640-12.01%
Count1,044962-7.85%
Proportion per 100k0.390.33-15.38%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Oyama

The ethnicity of those bearing the Oyama surname also underwent some changes between 2000 and 2010. According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of Oyamas were of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity, although this percentage dipped from 80.27% to 74.95% over the decade. There was a notable increase in individuals identifying with two or more races, surging from 7.38% to 12.68%. The White population within the Oyama surname increased slightly from 6.70% to 7.17%, while the Hispanic population decreased from 5.27% to 4.89%. There were no individuals with the Oyama surname who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander80.27%74.95%-6.63%
Two or More Races7.38%12.68%71.82%
White6.7%7.17%7.01%
Hispanic5.27%4.89%-7.21%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%