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

Kaneshige, 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 Kaneshige surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kaneshige in America

Kaneshige is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kaneshige surname appeared 245 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 Kaneshige.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kaneshige 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 Kaneshige

The surname "KANESHIGE" has its origins in Japan, tracing back to the 8th century. It is a compound word derived from the Japanese words "kane" meaning "metal" and "shige" meaning "prosperous" or "thriving". The name likely originated in regions with a strong metalworking tradition, such as the ancient provinces of Yamato and Kawachi.

Among the earliest recorded instances of the Kaneshige name can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early 9th century chronicle of Japanese history. The text mentions a metalsmith named Kaneshige who was commissioned to create ornate metalwork for a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara.

In the 12th century, the Kaneshige family rose to prominence as skilled swordsmiths in the service of the powerful Minamoto clan. Their blades were renowned for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. One notable figure from this period was Kaneshige Munenaga, born in 1138, who was credited with forging the legendary sword "Higekiri".

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Kaneshige family continued their metalworking traditions, producing exquisite suits of armor and other ornamental metalwork for the samurai class. Kaneshige Katsumitsu, born in 1657, was a master armorer who served the Tokugawa shogunate.

In more recent times, the Kaneshige name has been carried by several notable individuals, including Kaneshige Toyo (1888-1961), a pioneering photographer and cinematographer who helped establish the Japanese film industry in the early 20th century.

Another prominent figure was Kaneshige Masahiro (1923-2001), a renowned sculptor and ceramicist whose works were heavily influenced by traditional Japanese metalworking techniques.

Additionally, Kaneshige Hitoshi (1934-2008) was a respected academic and author, known for his research on Japanese cultural history and his efforts to preserve traditional craftsmanship.

While the Kaneshige surname may not be as widely recognized outside of Japan, its long and storied history reflects the enduring legacy of Japanese metalworking and the craftsmen who have carried on these traditions for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kaneshige

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

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

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

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