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

Inafuku, 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 Inafuku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Inafuku in America

Inafuku is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Inafuku surname appeared 147 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 Inafuku.

We can also compare 2010 data for Inafuku 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 Inafuku

The surname INAFUKU originates from Japan, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to have roots in the Okinawan language, though the exact etymology is unclear. Some scholars suggest it may be derived from the words "ina" meaning "rice paddy" and "fuku" meaning "fortune" or "luck," implying a connection to agricultural prosperity.

During the Ryukyu Kingdom period (1429-1879), INAFUKU appears in historical records and documents from the islands of Okinawa, particularly in the Naha region. It is possible that the name was initially associated with a specific village or area where rice cultivation was prevalent.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the INAFUKU name was Inafuku Chōkō, a renowned Okinawan poet and scholar who lived from 1572 to 1647. His literary works and contributions to the preservation of Okinawan culture and language have made him a significant figure in the region's history.

In the 17th century, an Inafuku family is mentioned in the Omoro Sōshi, a collection of ancient Okinawan poetry and songs. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a prominent surname in the region during that time period.

Another notable figure was Inafuku Chōyū (1639-1718), a skilled warrior and advisor to the Ryukyu Kingdom's government. He played a crucial role in diplomatic relations with China and Japan during his lifetime.

During the 19th century, Inafuku Tōyū (1795-1872) was a respected Okinawan scholar and philosopher who contributed to the development of the Shuri dialect and the preservation of Okinawan cultural traditions.

As the Ryukyu Kingdom transitioned into the Okinawa Prefecture under Japanese rule in the late 19th century, the INAFUKU surname spread beyond the islands to other parts of Japan, though it remains most prevalent in Okinawa to this day.

While not a comprehensive list, these are some of the notable individuals who have carried the INAFUKU surname throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in Okinawan culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Inafuku

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

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

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

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