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

Hondo, 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 Hondo surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Hondo in America

Hondo is the 139757th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hondo surname appeared 110 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 Hondo.

The history of the last name Hondo

The surname Hondo has its origins in Japan, where it is written as 本堂. The etymology of the name can be broken down into two kanji characters: 本 (hon), meaning "root" or "origin," and 堂 (do), meaning "hall" or "temple." This combination generally suggests a place of significant importance, commonly associated with Buddhist temples where the main hall is referred to as Hondo. The name is believed to have roots in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), when family names began to be more systematically recorded.

Hondo as a surname first emerged in areas with strong Buddhist traditions, particularly in regions like Kyoto and Nara, which were historic centers of religious activity. The name was likely adopted by families who played integral roles in maintaining these temples or had strong affiliations with them. The earliest documented appearance of the surname can be found in temple records and land registries from the 13th century, though exact documents often lack comprehensive survival due to historical conflicts and natural degradation over time.

One notable historical reference to the surname Hondo is found in the journal of a Buddhist monk, Keisei, who mentioned a lay family with the surname Hondo assisting in temple construction in the year 1278. This is considered one of the earliest written records of the name. Over the centuries, the surname appeared sporadically in various feudal records, especially those concerning the administration of temple lands and related donations.

One significant figure with the surname Hondo is Hondo Yoshirou, a samurai recorded in the late Sengoku period (circa 1573-1603) for his contributions to the unification efforts under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Another historical figure is Hondo Sakura, a celebrated Haiku poet born in 1719 and known for her contributions to Edo period literature. The records indicate that Hondo Sakura passed away in 1783. Additionally, Hondo Ryusuke, a notable scholar in the Meiji period (1868-1912), made significant contributions to the modernization of Japan's educational system.

Throughout the Edo period (1603-1868), the name continued to appear in various registries, often connected to families serving in administrative roles within temple precincts or as local officials responsible for the upkeep of religious sites. Hondo Kenji, an influential councilman in the late Edo period, born in 1821, played a pivotal role in local governance and religious affairs until his death in 1889. Another distinguished individual, Hondo Kazumi, born in 1853, became a key figure in the promotion of cultural heritage and historical preservation during the early 20th century, before his death in 1931.

Several place names also carry the Hondo surname, reflecting its historical significance. For instance, the Hondo district in present-day Kumamoto was named after the influential Hondo family governing the area during the early Edo period. This connection between the surname and geographical locations underscores the influence and prominence of the Hondo name in various facets of Japanese history.

The surname Hondo is thus deeply intertwined with Japan's religious, cultural, and administrative history, showcasing a lineage of significance over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hondo

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!