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

Kami, 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 Kami surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kami in America

Kami is the 65593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kami surname appeared 302 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 Kami.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kami 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 Kami

The surname KAMI has its origins in Japan, dating back to the 8th century CE. It is derived from the ancient Japanese word "kami," which means "god" or "deity" in the Shinto religion. The name was likely bestowed upon individuals who held positions as priests or religious leaders within the Shinto faith.

During the Heian period (794-1185 CE), the KAMI surname appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those related to religious ceremonies and rituals. One notable example is the Engishiki, a legal code compiled in 927 CE, which mentions individuals with the surname KAMI serving as shrine attendants and officiants.

The earliest recorded instance of the KAMI surname can be traced back to Kami no Hiromichi, a prominent Shinto priest who lived during the late 8th century. He is credited with establishing several shrines and introducing new rituals within the Shinto tradition.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the KAMI surname gained prominence among the warrior class, as some members of the samurai clans adopted the name to signify their devotion to the Shinto faith. One such individual was Kami no Masatsura (1170-1252), a skilled swordsman and military strategist who served under the famous shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo.

During the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the KAMI surname was also associated with scholarly pursuits and the study of Japanese literature and poetry. Kami no Mabuchi (1697-1769), a renowned scholar and philosopher, made significant contributions to the interpretation and preservation of ancient Japanese texts.

Another notable figure was Kami no Nobukuni (1825-1898), a statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in the Meiji Restoration, which saw the transition of Japan from a feudal shogunate to a modern nation-state.

In the realm of arts and culture, Kami no Takeshi (1924-2016) was a highly acclaimed filmmaker and actor, known for his distinctive cinematic style and his exploration of themes related to Japanese identity and traditions.

Throughout its long history, the KAMI surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including religious leaders, warriors, scholars, and artists, all connected by their association with the rich cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kami

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

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

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