Araki
Of Japanese origin, indicating someone from the city of Araki.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,714 Americans carry the last name Araki. That puts it at #18,703 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.50 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 199,973 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Araki surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.7K
1 in 199,973
Census rank
#18,703
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,469 bearers of the surname Araki in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.50 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18703rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Araki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 51.1%. The next largest groups are White (32.2%) and Two or More Races (9.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Araki
The surname Araki is of Japanese origin, originating from the Araki district of Kyoto Prefecture. It is believed to have emerged during the Heian period (794-1185 AD) as a locational surname, referring to those who hailed from the Araki region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Araki surname can be found in the Nijo Gosho-ke Monjo, a collection of historical documents from the Nijo family dating back to the 14th century. In these records, the name appears as 'Araki', indicating its long-standing presence in Japan.
The name Araki is derived from the Old Japanese words 'ara', meaning 'rough' or 'wild', and 'ki', meaning 'tree'. This suggests that the Araki district may have been characterized by rugged or forested terrain, giving rise to the surname's meaning as 'rough trees' or 'wild trees'.
A notable figure bearing the Araki surname was Araki Murashige (1535-1599), a renowned samurai warrior who served under Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Sengoku period. He played a crucial role in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which solidified the Tokugawa shogunate's control over Japan.
Another prominent individual with the Araki surname was Araki Jippensha (1807-1880), a Buddhist monk and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Zen Buddhism. He was influential in reviving the Rinzai school of Zen in Japan during the Edo period.
In the field of arts, Araki Nobuyoshi (born 1940) is a renowned Japanese photographer and filmmaker known for his provocative and often controversial works exploring themes of eroticism and bondage. His unique artistic vision has earned him international acclaim and recognition.
Another notable Araki was Araki Sadao (1877-1962), a Japanese mathematician and educator who made important contributions to the field of geometry. He served as a professor at several prestigious universities, including the University of Tokyo, and played a significant role in advancing mathematical education in Japan.
The Araki surname has also been present in the world of literature, with Araki Yasusada (1714-1783) being a prominent Edo period poet and scholar. His works, particularly in the haiku and waka forms, have been widely studied and appreciated for their depth and artistry.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Araki
Among Census respondents with the surname Araki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 51.1%. The next largest groups are White (32.2%) and Two or More Races (9.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Araki bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Araki surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander51.1%
- White32.2%
- Two or more races9.3%
- Hispanic or Latino5.6%
- Black or African American1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Araki surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,703 | #18,703 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,469 | 1,469 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Araki bearers went from 1,469 to 1,469 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #18,703 to #18,703.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Araki
FAQ
Araki surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Araki?
The surname Araki holds position #18,703 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,714 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.50 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Araki surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Araki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 51.1%. The next largest groups are White (32.2%) and Two or More Races (9.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.