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

Bisho, 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 Bisho surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Bisho in America

Bisho is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bisho surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bisho.

The history of the last name Bisho

The surname Bisho traces its origins back to Japan. The etymology of Bisho stems from a combination of traditional Japanese Kanji characters. In kanji, the characters 美 ('bi') meaning 'beautiful' and 笑 ('sho') meaning 'smile' are often combined to reflect a positive connotation of a 'beautiful smile.' The linguistic tradition of Japan about the 8th century, during the Nara period, saw the formalization of many such surnames.

Areas most likely associated with the surname Bisho were initially within the Kansai region, particularly around Kyoto. In the Heian and subsequent Edo periods, it was common for nobility and samurai clans to adopt such surnames. The surname does not appear in ancient records like the Western Domesday Book, but the Kanji characters have been consistently used throughout Japanese feudal documents to denote families of a certain aesthetic or martial standing.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Bisho can be found in a document from the Muromachi period around 1472, which lists a minor samurai by the name of Bisho Haruyuki. The document, centered around land grants, indicates Haruyuki was entrusted with a small plot of land in what is now modern-day Kyoto.

One notable figure is Takayuki Bisho, born in 1592 and a well-respected artist in the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. Takayuki’s works were influential in the transition from traditional ink-wash paintings to more colorful and dynamic styles that became popular in the Edo period. His artistry enabled the Bisho name to gain recognition beyond samurai circles.

Moving into the Edo period, records show Bisho Mamoru, born in 1755, as a retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate. His meticulous attention to record-keeping and administration in the Nagoya domain made him a valuable asset to his lords. Mamoru’s descendants continued in various bureaucratic roles, ensuring the name's prominence in administrative circles.

In the Meiji Restoration of the 19th century, a restructuring of names by government decree led to the increase in the use of surnames by commoners. Bisho Yukio, born 1834, a scholar and educator, contributed to the modernization of Japan’s education system. Yukio’s works on mathematics and pedagogy were key texts in Meiji-era schools.

Entering into the modern pre-war Showa period, Bisho Hitomi, born in 1902, made significant contributions to early Japanese cinema. Hitomi’s acting prowess in silent films brought the Bisho name into the contemporary cultural spotlight, embodying the transformation and resilience of Japanese artistry through the turbulent periods leading up to World War II.

In summary, the surname Bisho has a rich Japanese heritage, its significance evolving through various societal roles from samurai, artists, bureaucrats to educators and actors, linking these eras' cultural tapestry into the contemporary identity of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bisho

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bisho 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.

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

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

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