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

Kawai, 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 Kawai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kawai in America

Kawai is the 30390th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kawai surname appeared 769 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 Kawai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kawai 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 Kawai

The surname KAWAI has its origins in Japan. It is a relatively common surname in the country, particularly in the central and eastern regions. The name is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "kawai," which means "river bank" or "riverside." This suggests that the surname may have originated among families or communities that lived near rivers or waterways.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KAWAI surname dates back to the late 14th century. It appears in the genealogical records of a samurai family from the Mino Province (now part of Gifu Prefecture). The name was documented as "Kawai" during this period, indicating its long-standing presence in Japan.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the KAWAI surname was associated with various prominent individuals. One notable figure was Kawai Tsugunosuke (1619-1691), a renowned swordsmith from the Kyoto region. His works were highly regarded and sought after by samurai warriors and nobility alike.

In the 19th century, the name KAWAI gained further recognition with the rise of Kawai Nampaku (1776-1846), a renowned painter and calligrapher. His artistic contributions were celebrated during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and artists today.

Another notable figure bearing the KAWAI surname was Kawai Suguru (1858-1906), a pioneering journalist and political activist. He played a significant role in the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, advocating for democratic reforms and civil liberties in Japan during the Meiji era.

In more recent history, the KAWAI surname has been associated with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. One prominent example is Kawai Koichi (1926-2019), the founder of the Kawai Musical Instrument Manufacturing Company, one of the world's leading manufacturers of pianos and other musical instruments.

Throughout its history, the KAWAI surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including samurai warriors, artisans, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs. While its origins can be traced back to riverside communities, the name has evolved to encompass a diverse range of contributions and achievements across different fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kawai

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

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

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

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