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

Anzai, 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 Anzai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Anzai in America

Anzai is the 64054th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Anzai surname appeared 311 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 Anzai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Anzai 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 Anzai

The surname ANZAI originates from Japan and traces its roots back to the 8th century. It is believed to have originated from the Iyo region, which is the present-day Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The name is derived from the old Japanese word "anzen," which means "peaceful" or "tranquil."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the ANZAI surname can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient Japanese chronicle that covers the period from 697 to 791 AD. The chronicle mentions an individual named Anzai no Sukune, who was a high-ranking official during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the ANZAI clan rose to prominence as influential samurai warriors and landowners in the Iyo region. They were known for their loyalty and military prowess, and several members of the clan played significant roles in various battles and conflicts of that era.

One notable figure from the ANZAI clan was Anzai Masayoshi (1272-1348), who served as a retainer under the powerful Ashikaga shogunate. He was renowned for his strategic military abilities and played a crucial role in the defense of Kamakura during the Nanboku-cho Wars (1336-1392).

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the ANZAI family continued to hold influential positions, with some members serving as local lords (daimyo) or officials in various domains across Japan. One such figure was Anzai Nobutsuna (1594-1668), who was the lord of the Tsu Domain (present-day Mie Prefecture) and renowned for his governance and support of the arts.

Another notable ANZAI was Anzai Shuzui (1619-1682), a renowned Zen Buddhist monk and calligrapher who served as the head of the Myoshin-ji temple in Kyoto. His calligraphic works are highly regarded and can be found in several museums and collections.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the ANZAI surname continued to produce notable figures, such as Anzai Tsurusuke (1846-1912), a prominent educator and advocate for women's education. He founded the Anzai Gakuen, a prestigious school for girls in Tokyo.

Throughout its long history, the ANZAI surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, governance, religion, arts, and education, reflecting the diverse contributions of this family to Japanese society over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Anzai

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

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

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

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