Identification　of　nonlinear　hysteretic　systems　has　practical　significance　for　the　prediction　of　structural　response.　This　paper　develops　a　novel　parameter　identification　method　for　nonlinear　hysteretic　systems.　The　Bouc-Wen　model　and　its　improved　models　are　used　to　parametrically　characterize　the　structural　systems.　Model　parameters　are　identified　using　a　given　load-displacement　trajectory.　The　proposed　method　is　developed　under　the　framework　of　the　sequence　model　optimization,　which　provides　a　broader　search　domain　and　needs　fewer　iterations.　Firstly,　a　series　of　sensitivity　analyses　were　conducted　to　investigate　the　effects　of　the　Bouc-Wen　parameters　on　the　hysteresis　behavior　and　to　guide　the　identification　process.　Subsequently,　based　on　the　framework　of　the　sequence　model　optimization,　a　novel　strategy　for　identifying　the　model　parameters　of　the　nonlinear　hysteresis　system　was　proposed.　Finally,　the　effectiveness　and　accuracy　of　the　proposed　algorithm　were　verified　by　the　experimental　data　and　numerical　simulation　results.　The　results　indicate　that　the　identified　numerical　model　can　accurately　capture　the　strength　and　stiffness　degradation　and　the　pinching　effect　of　the　structural　system.　As　a　result,　the　predicted　hysteretic　trajectories　are　well　agreed　with　the　actual　structural　responses.　The　case　studies　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　method　is　sufficiently　accurate　and　computationally　efficient　for　the　nonlinear　hysteretic　systems.