Find out how popular the last name Aki is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Aki.

Aki, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Aki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Aki in America

Aki is the 27732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Aki surname appeared 867 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Aki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Aki to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Aki

The surname AKI is believed to have originated in Japan, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 8th century CE. The name is derived from the Japanese word "aki," meaning "autumn" or "fall," which was a common practice in ancient Japan to name children after the season in which they were born.

One of the earliest mentions of the surname AKI can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early Japanese chronicle from the 8th century, where it is recorded as the family name of a samurai warrior named Aki no Kiyomitsu. This suggests that the name was already established and associated with noble or warrior families during this time period.

The AKI surname has been particularly prevalent in the Kanto region of Japan, which includes the modern-day prefectures of Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa. Historical records indicate that several prominent families in this region bore the AKI name, including the Aki clan of Musashi Province (now part of Tokyo).

One notable figure in Japanese history with the surname AKI was Aki Masayuki (1564-1619), a samurai and daimyo (feudal lord) who served under the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. He was known for his military prowess and played a significant role in the Siege of Osaka, a major conflict during the Sengoku period.

Another historical figure was Aki Toshitaka (1559-1636), a Buddhist monk and scholar who was renowned for his calligraphy skills and his contribution to the development of the "Aki-ryu" calligraphy style. His works are still highly regarded in Japanese art and cultural circles.

In the field of literature, Aki Nobuo (1925-2012) was a celebrated Japanese novelist and essayist. He is best known for his works exploring themes of Japanese identity and the impact of modernization on traditional culture. His novel "Bokura no Kazoku" (Our Family) received widespread critical acclaim and was adapted into a popular television series.

The surname AKI has also been associated with notable figures in the world of sports. Aki Fukusawa (1942-2022) was a Japanese professional baseball player who played for the Yomiuri Giants and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

While the surname AKI is more commonly found in Japan, it has also been adopted by individuals of Japanese descent in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Japanese immigrant populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Aki

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Aki.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Aki was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Aki has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Aki was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aki, please contact us.

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