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Obi Family History

Obi Surname 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


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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.

What did your Obi ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Obi. 100% of Obi women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Obi | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

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 UK 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 the UK, 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

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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.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Obi ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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