NameCensus.

UK surname

Oji

A surname of Japanese origin meaning "prince" or "samurai warlord."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Ealing and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oji is 115 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2014

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oji surname distribution map

The map shows where the Oji surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Oji surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oji over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 66 #31,553
2001 modern 58 #32,180
2002 modern 65 #31,903
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 71 #31,578
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Ojis are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Luton, Ealing, Waltham Forest, Brent and Woodlands. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Luton 005 Luton
2 Ealing 020 Ealing
3 Waltham Forest 017 Waltham Forest
4 Brent 027 Brent
5 Woodlands Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oji

These lists show first names that appear often with the Oji surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oji

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oji, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Oji surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Oji household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Oji is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oji is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oji falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oji is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Oji, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oji

The surname Oji is believed to have originated in Japan, with its earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Japanese word "oji," which means "prince" or "lord." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who held positions of power or authority within their communities.

One of the earliest known references to the name Oji can be found in the "Azuma Kagami," a historical record from the Kamakura period (1185-1333). This document chronicles the lives and events of the samurai class during that era, and it is possible that some individuals mentioned therein carried the surname Oji.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the name Oji appeared in various regional records and manuscripts, particularly in the areas around the former provinces of Musashi (present-day Tokyo and Saitama) and Hitachi (part of modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture). This suggests that the name may have been more prevalent in these regions.

One notable individual with the surname Oji was Oji Masahiro (1785-1858), a samurai and scholar who lived during the late Edo period. He was known for his expertise in Confucian studies and served as a tutor to several prominent daimyo families.

Another historical figure with this surname was Oji Nobutada (1558-1625), a Japanese daimyo who ruled over the Aizu domain (present-day Fukushima Prefecture) during the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He was known for his loyalty to the Tokugawa shogunate and played a role in suppressing several uprisings against the Shogun's rule.

In the 19th century, Oji Takehisa (1826-1891) was a notable samurai and politician who served as a council member in the Meiji government after the Restoration of 1868. He was instrumental in the transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the modern imperial state.

During the Kamakura period, the name Oji may have been associated with certain place names, such as Oji-dono (present-day Oji Station in Tokyo) or Oji-ga-oka (a former settlement in Tochigi Prefecture). However, the exact origins and connections between the surname and these place names are not entirely clear.

Lastly, Oji Masayuki (1923-2008) was a Japanese businessman and philanthropist who served as the chairman of the Oji Paper Company, one of the largest paper manufacturing companies in Japan. He was known for his contributions to the industry and his support for various cultural and educational initiatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oji surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oji surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Oji a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Oji surname mean?

A surname of Japanese origin meaning "prince" or "samurai warlord."

What does the Oji map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Oji bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.