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

Hiraoka, 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 Hiraoka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hiraoka in America

Hiraoka is the 55386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hiraoka surname appeared 371 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 Hiraoka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hiraoka 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 Hiraoka

The surname HIRAOKA is of Japanese origin, derived from the words "hira" meaning flat or level, and "oka" meaning hill or small mountain. It likely originated in the late 8th or early 9th century CE, during the Heian period in Japan.

HIRAOKA was initially a geographical name given to families residing near a flat hill or plateau. Some of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in medieval Japanese family registries, particularly in regions like Kyoto, Nara, and parts of the Kansai area.

One of the earliest known bearers of the HIRAOKA name was Hiraoka Masahiro, a samurai warrior who served under the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War in the late 12th century. He is mentioned in the historical chronicle "Heike Monogatari" for his bravery in battle.

In the 15th century, a Buddhist monk named Hiraoka Jōen gained prominence for his calligraphy and poetry. His works are preserved in several temples and collections across Japan.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), the HIRAOKA family produced several notable figures, including Hiraoka Tōyō (1670-1733), a respected scholar and teacher of Confucian philosophy.

In the late 19th century, Hiraoka Hiroshi (1856-1923) was a pioneering journalist and editor who played a significant role in shaping modern Japanese journalism.

Another notable bearer of the HIRAOKA name was Hiraoka Kōzō (1904-1972), a renowned ceramist and potter whose works are displayed in museums across Japan and internationally.

While the HIRAOKA surname has its roots in Japan, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange. However, the essence of its meaning, rooted in the geography and history of Japan, remains an integral part of its identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hiraoka

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

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

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

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