Get access to Obi family records.Start a free trial

Obi Family History

Obi Name Meaning

West African (Nigeria): Igbo name from the title obì denoting either an elder or a chief a traditional Igbo king. West African (Nigeria): Igbo name from a short form personal name such as Obialo which is interpreted as e.g. ‘the heart is at peace’. Japanese: written 小尾 ‘small tail’ possibly denoting the lower slope of a mountain; the name could possibly mean 帯 ‘sash’ as well. It is not common in Japan and could be a habitational name from a castle in Hyūga (now Miyazaki prefecture) though the castle's name is written 飫肥.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Oki, Oba, Nii, Ori, Ota, Bodi, Rubi, Chi, Orr, Ott

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Obi family from?

You can see how Obi families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Obi family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Obi families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 5 Obi families living in Nebraska. This was about 63% of all the recorded Obi's in USA. Nebraska had the highest population of Obi families in 1880.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Obi surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Obi

What Obi family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 856 census records available for the last name Obi. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Obi census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Obi
Passenger Lists
There are 277 immigration records available for the last name Obi. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Obi immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 129 military records available for the last name Obi. For the veterans among your Obi ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Obi military records

Census Records

There are 856 census records available for the last name Obi. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Obi census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Obi

Passenger Lists

There are 277 immigration records available for the last name Obi. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Obi immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 129 military records available for the last name Obi. For the veterans among your Obi ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Obi military records

You've only scratched the surface of Obi family history

Discover More

What is the average Obi lifespan?

Between 1968 and 2002, in the United States, Obi life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Obi in 1968 was 55, and 59 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Obi

Browse profiles of historical people with the Obi last name

Start a 14-Day Free Trial