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

Katsura, 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 Katsura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Katsura in America

Katsura is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Katsura surname appeared 147 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 Katsura.

We can also compare 2010 data for Katsura 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 Katsura

The surname KATSURA originates from Japan and has been in use since ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "katsura," which refers to the Cercidiphyllum japonicum tree, also known as the Katsura tree. This tree is native to Japan and is highly revered for its beautiful foliage and cultural significance.

The earliest known references to the KATSURA surname date back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) when it was primarily used by aristocratic families in Kyoto and surrounding areas. During this time, many noble families adopted surnames based on their ancestral homes, landmarks, or natural features near their residences. The KATSURA name may have originated in a similar manner, with families residing near groves of Katsura trees taking on the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KATSURA surname can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient Japanese chronicle dating back to the 8th century CE. This text mentions a family by the name of KATSURA residing in the Kyoto region. Additionally, the KATSURA name appears in various historical records and literary works from the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), suggesting its widespread use among the samurai class and courtiers.

Notable individuals with the KATSURA surname throughout history include:

1. KATSURA Hisanaga (1513-1577), a prominent daimyo (feudal lord) and military commander during the Sengoku period. He served under the powerful Imagawa clan and played a crucial role in several battles.

2. KATSURA Nobutsuna (1562-1623), a renowned tea master and calligrapher during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He was a student of the legendary Sen no Rikyu and contributed significantly to the development of the Japanese tea ceremony.

3. KATSURA Rin (1804-1858), a Confucian scholar and educator who played a vital role in the development of the Katsura-gaku academic movement, which aimed to revive and promote traditional Japanese values and culture.

4. KATSURA Taro (1848-1913), a prominent statesman and prime minister of Japan from 1901 to 1908. He was instrumental in modernizing Japan's political and economic systems during the Meiji era.

5. KATSURA Hiroshi (1944-2020), a renowned architect known for his innovative and minimalist designs. He was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2009, considered the highest honor in the field of architecture.

The KATSURA surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Japan, such as Katsura-gawa (Katsura River) in Kyoto and Katsura-mura (Katsura Village) in Kagoshima Prefecture, further strengthening its connection to the natural landscape and local geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Katsura

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

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

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

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