Okumura (written in Japanese as 奥村) is a Japanese surname. Derived from the elements 奥 (oku)) meaning "inside" or "inner" and 村 (mura)) meaning "town" or "village", the name literally translates to “inner village,” often referring to a settlement located further inland or away from the coast. In Japan, Okumura is a topographic surname that originated as a place name for villages situated in remote or interior areas.
Notable Bearers
The surname has been borne by various notable individuals across different fields. In the arts, Chiyo Okumura (born 1947) is a popular Japanese pop singer and former fashion model; Okumura Hatsune (born 1990) is a singer-songwriter; and Okumura Masanobu (1686–1764) was a noted Japanese print designer, book publisher, and painter of the Ukiyo-e school. In religion, Shohaku Okumura (born 1948) is a prominent Soto Zen priest and founder of the Sanshin Zen Community in Bloomington, Indiana. In sports and entertainment, Shigeo Okumura (born 1972) is a Japanese professional wrestler working in Mexico, and Takeshi Okumura (born 1952) is a professional pool player. Others include Okumura Ioko (1845–1907), a Japanese activist; Haruhiko Okumura, an engineer; Miyuki Okumura, a graphic designer; Rosie Okumura, an American voice actor and content creator; and Tenzo Okumura (born 1944), a Japanese politician.
Distribution and Variants
As a toponymic surname, Okumura is common throughout Japan, though no single regional concentration dominates. The name is occasionally encountered as a given name as well, in line with Japanese naming conventions that allow many surnames to also be used as first names. There are no widely recognized variant forms, though the same literal meaning is shared by place names containing the components 奥 (oku) and 村 (mura).
- Meaning: “inner village” or “remote village”
- Origin: Japanese
- Type: Toponymic surname
- Regions of usage: Japan