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

Akutagawa, 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 Akutagawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akutagawa in America

Akutagawa is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akutagawa surname appeared 124 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 Akutagawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akutagawa 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 Akutagawa

The surname Akutagawa originates from Japan, where it first appeared during the Edo period (1603–1867). It is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "aku" meaning "evil" or "malicious" and "tagawa" meaning "river" or "stream." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a location near a treacherous or dangerous body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Akutagawa name can be found in the Edo-era document known as the "Buke Shohatto," a comprehensive set of laws and regulations for the samurai class. This text, compiled in 1615, mentions an individual named Akutagawa Toshitsune who was a retainer of the powerful Tokugawa shogunate.

During the Edo period, the Akutagawa family was based in the Musashi Province, which is now part of the greater Tokyo area. They were a respected samurai clan known for their skills in martial arts and their loyalty to the Tokugawa rulers.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals to bear the Akutagawa name was Akutagawa Ryunosuke, a renowned author and literary figure. He was born in 1892 and is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Japanese literature, known for his innovative short stories and introspective writing style. Akutagawa Ryunosuke's works explored themes of alienation, madness, and the human condition, and he is considered a master of psychological fiction.

Another notable figure in Japanese history with the Akutagawa surname was Akutagawa Hiroshi, a military officer who lived from 1873 to 1944. He served in the Imperial Japanese Army and played a significant role in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, where he distinguished himself as a skilled strategist and commander.

In more recent times, the Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious literary awards, was established in 1935 and named in honor of the renowned author Akutagawa Ryunosuke. This prestigious award is given twice a year to recognize exceptional works of fiction by both established and emerging Japanese writers.

Throughout its history, the Akutagawa surname has been associated with various notable individuals, from samurai warriors and military commanders to renowned authors and literary figures, all of whom have contributed to the rich cultural heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akutagawa

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

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 Akutagawa 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 Akutagawa 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 Akutagawa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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