Kawanishi
A Japanese surname indicating a geographical origin near a river.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Kawanishi. That puts it at #158,432 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kawanishi surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#158,432
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Kawanishi in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 158432nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kawanishi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kawanishi
The surname Kawanishi has its origins in Japan, where it first appeared during the late 8th century CE. The name is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "kawa" meaning river and "nishi" meaning west, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname likely lived near a river located to the west of a certain area or village.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kawanishi name can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early Japanese chronicle completed in 797 CE, which mentions a local government official with this surname. Several other historical documents from the Heian period (794-1185 CE) also reference individuals bearing the Kawanishi name, indicating its use among the ruling samurai class.
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the Kawanishi family emerged as a prominent clan of samurai warriors who held significant landholdings and wielded considerable influence in the western regions of Japan. Notably, Kawanishi Masatomo (1292-1368) was a renowned military commander who served under the Ashikaga shogunate and played a pivotal role in several key battles during the Nanboku-cho Wars.
In the later Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the Kawanishi surname was particularly concentrated in the Ise and Mie provinces of central Japan. Historical records from this time mention several notable figures, including Kawanishi Sadakazu (1716-1792), a respected scholar and poet, and Kawanishi Gentaro (1825-1892), a pioneering industrialist who established one of Japan's first modern textile factories.
Other notable individuals with the Kawanishi surname include Kawanishi Masaru (1875-1946), a pioneering aircraft designer and engineer who founded the Kawanishi Aircraft Company, and Kawanishi Hideyo (1899-1965), a renowned painter and printmaker known for his vibrant depictions of traditional Japanese life and landscapes.
Throughout its long history, the Kawanishi surname has maintained a strong association with its geographic origins, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural and linguistic traditions of Japan. Despite its widespread use across various regions and social strata, the name has retained its distinct identity and continues to hold significance as a marker of familial heritage and regional affiliation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kawanishi
Among Census respondents with the surname Kawanishi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Kawanishi bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kawanishi surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander87.3%
- Two or more races6.9%
- Unknown or suppressed5.9%
FAQ
Kawanishi surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kawanishi?
The surname Kawanishi holds position #158,432 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kawanishi surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kawanishi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 87.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.