Hiraki last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Hiraki

A Japanese surname meaning "to open" or "to unfold".

Hiraki, 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 Hiraki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hiraki in America

Hiraki is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hiraki surname appeared 172 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 Hiraki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hiraki 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 104156 97384 6.72%
Count 172 173 -0.58%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.06 0.00%

The history of the last name Hiraki

The surname HIRAKI is believed to have originated in Japan, with its roots dating back to the Edo period (1603-1868). It is likely derived from the Japanese word "hiraku," which means "to open" or "to spread." This suggests that the name may have been associated with occupations or roles related to opening or spreading something, such as opening doors, gates, or perhaps even spreading knowledge or ideas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HIRAKI surname can be found in the Edo-era census records of the Hiroshima region. These records mention a family by the name of HIRAKI residing in a small village near the present-day city of Hiroshima.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), a notable figure named HIRAKI Masao (1858-1925) rose to prominence as a scholar and educator. He was instrumental in establishing several schools and educational institutions in the Kyoto area, promoting the spread of knowledge and learning.

In the late 19th century, the HIRAKI surname also appeared in the records of Japanese immigrants who settled in Hawaii and other parts of the United States. One such individual was HIRAKI Fumio (1876-1944), a businessman who established a successful trading company in Honolulu, facilitating the exchange of goods between Japan and Hawaii.

Another noteworthy figure was HIRAKI Koji (1901-1980), a renowned architect who played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts after World War II. His designs, which often incorporated traditional Japanese elements, can be seen in various buildings and structures across Japan.

In the literary world, HIRAKI Kazuo (1936-2004) gained recognition as a celebrated novelist and short story writer. His works explored themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern Japanese society, earning him numerous accolades and awards.

The HIRAKI surname has also been associated with several place names in Japan, such as Hiraki-mura (Hiraki Village) in Yamagata Prefecture and Hiraki-cho (Hiraki Town) in Akita Prefecture. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

While the HIRAKI surname may not be among the most common in Japan, its historical significance and connections to various fields, from education and business to architecture and literature, have contributed to its enduring presence in Japanese culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hiraki

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

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 Hiraki was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 6.40% 11
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 86.05% 148
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.56% 13
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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 Hiraki has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 6.40% 5.20% 20.69%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 86.05% 86.71% -0.76%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 7.56% 7.51% 0.66%
Hispanic 0.00% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Hiraki last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 26, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/hiraki-surname-popularity/.

"Hiraki last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/hiraki-surname-popularity/. Accessed 26 July, 2024

Hiraki last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/hiraki-surname-popularity/.

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