Surname · Japanese origin
Ogawa
Meaning
The surname Ogawa means Small river (小川).
Origin
Japanese
Type
toponymic
The origin of the surname Ogawa
Ogawa (小川) means “small river” or “stream.”
What kind of surname is Ogawa?
Ogawa is a toponymic surname, originally describing where the bearer lived or came from. It belongs to the Japanese naming tradition — you can read how Japanese surnames were formed on our Japanese last names page.
Other Japanese surnames
Other toponymic surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Ogawa mean?
The surname Ogawa means Small river (小川). Ogawa (小川) means “small river” or “stream.”
Where does the surname Ogawa come from?
Ogawa is a surname of Japanese origin.
What kind of surname is Ogawa?
Ogawa is a toponymic surname, originally describing where the bearer lived or came from.
What are other Japanese surnames?
Other Japanese surnames include Hashimoto, Hayashi, Ikeda, Inoue, Ishikawa, Ito.