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

Inouye, 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 Inouye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Inouye in America

Inouye is the 11821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Inouye surname appeared 2,647 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Inouye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Inouye 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 Inouye

The surname Inouye has its origins in Japan, where it first emerged during the feudal period of the country's history, sometime between the 12th and 19th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "ino" meaning "rice paddy" and "uye" meaning "above" or "upper," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a family or individual living in an area situated above or near rice paddies.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Inouye surname can be found in the historical records of the Edo period (1603-1867), which document a prominent samurai family bearing the name. This family was known for their loyalty and service to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the last feudal military government of Japan.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), when Japan underwent rapid modernization and westernization, several notable figures with the Inouye surname emerged. One such individual was Inouye Kaoru (1836-1915), a statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in the establishment of Japan's modern political system and served as the first Japanese ambassador to the United States.

In the 20th century, the Inouye name gained international recognition through the achievements of Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), a highly decorated World War II veteran and long-serving United States Senator from Hawaii. Inouye, who was of Japanese descent, was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and was widely respected for his advocacy of civil rights and his unwavering commitment to public service.

Another prominent individual with the Inouye surname was Inouye Junichi (1888-1975), a pioneering Japanese photographer and filmmaker who is widely regarded as one of the founders of Japanese documentary cinema. His works, which captured the daily lives and traditions of rural Japan, are considered important historical and cultural artifacts.

In the realm of Japanese literature, the name Inouye is associated with Inouye Yasushi (1935-2012), a renowned novelist and essayist whose works explored themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of modern Japanese society. His novels, such as "The Remembrance of Things Past" and "Narrative of a Blow," earned him critical acclaim both domestically and internationally.

While the Inouye surname is most commonly found in Japan, it has also been carried to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora communities. Regardless of its geographic location, the name Inouye continues to hold significance as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Inouye

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

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

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

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