Save Type Surname (from location) Usage Japanese Scripts 大久保(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. /o̞ː.kɯᵝ.bo̞/ [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsOkubo Meaning & History From Japanese 大 (o) meaning "big, great" combined with 久 (ku) meaning "long time ago" and 保 (ho) meaning "protect". This was the name of a samurai clan founded in the 15th century.