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

Iwase, 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 Iwase surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Iwase in America

Iwase is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Iwase surname appeared 149 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 Iwase.

We can also compare 2010 data for Iwase 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 Iwase

The surname Iwase is of Japanese origin, with its roots tracing back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have emerged from the Iwase district of present-day Kyoto Prefecture, where the name was likely derived from the Japanese words "iwa," meaning rock, and "se," referring to a narrow pathway or gorge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Iwase name can be found in the Edo period (1603-1868) records of the Iwase village, which was situated in the mountainous region of Kyoto. During this time, the name was also documented in several local manuscripts and registries, often associated with landowners and prominent families in the area.

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Iwase Hisanori (1627-1704) gained recognition as a skilled samurai and loyal retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate. His descendants continued to carry the Iwase name, contributing to its spread across various regions of Japan.

Another prominent individual bearing the Iwase surname was Iwase Yoshiyuki (1819-1887), a scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in the modernization of Japan's education system during the Meiji Restoration period. His works on educational reform and Western ideologies had a significant impact on the country's intellectual landscape.

In the early 20th century, Iwase Masao (1901-1974) gained recognition as a pioneering artist and printmaker. His woodblock prints, featuring traditional Japanese themes and landscapes, earned him international acclaim and are now part of prestigious museum collections worldwide.

Throughout the years, the Iwase name has also been associated with various other notable individuals, such as Iwase Tatsuo (1905-1967), a renowned architect known for his innovative designs, and Iwase Kiyoko (1920-1998), a celebrated writer and literary critic who contributed significantly to the promotion of women's literature in Japan.

While the Iwase surname may have originated from a specific geographical location, it has since spread across Japan and, to a lesser extent, other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families with diverse backgrounds and accomplishments.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Iwase

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

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

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

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