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

Isobe, 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 Isobe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Isobe in America

Isobe is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Isobe surname appeared 260 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 Isobe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Isobe 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 Isobe

The surname Isobe is of Japanese origin, with its roots dating back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. The name is derived from the Japanese word "isobe," which means a small stone. It is believed that the name was initially given to people living near a stony area or riverbed.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Isobe can be found in the Azuma Kagami, a historical chronicle compiled in the 14th century. The chronicle mentions an individual named Isobe Chikatsune, who served as a samurai under the Kamakura shogunate in the late 12th century.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573 CE), the Isobe family played a prominent role in the military affairs of the region. A notable figure was Isobe Nobutada, a skilled samurai who fought alongside the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the Isobe name was associated with various domains and areas across Japan. For instance, the Isobe clan was prominent in the Tosa Domain (present-day Kochi Prefecture) and held influential positions within the local administration.

Another notable figure from this period was Isobe Masakata, a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived in the 17th century. His works were widely admired and have been preserved in various anthologies and collections.

As Japan entered the modern era, the Isobe surname continued to be carried by individuals who made significant contributions in various fields. One such individual was Isobe Seihan (1819-1895), a prominent educator and scholar who played a pivotal role in the modernization of Japan's education system.

In the 20th century, Isobe Takehisa (1904-1985) gained recognition as a distinguished architect. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Kagoshima Prefectural Office and the Kagoshima City Hall.

Another notable figure was Isobe Toshiko (1938-2021), a renowned author and playwright. Her works explored themes of gender, identity, and social issues, and she was widely celebrated for her literary contributions.

While this is not an exhaustive list, these are some of the notable individuals who carried the Isobe surname throughout Japanese history, contributing to various aspects of society, culture, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Isobe

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Isobe, 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!