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

Kihara, 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 Kihara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kihara in America

Kihara is the 45026th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kihara surname appeared 476 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 Kihara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kihara 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 Kihara

The surname KIHARA is of Japanese origin, tracing its roots back to the early 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the Kyoto region of Japan, where it was initially associated with families involved in traditional Japanese pottery and ceramics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KIHARA surname can be found in the "Azuma Kagami" (Mirror of the East), a historical chronicle documenting events in medieval Japan between 1180 and 1266. This text mentions a prominent potter named KIHARA Nobutaka, who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

The name KIHARA is thought to derive from the Japanese words "ki" (tree) and "hara" (field or plain), potentially referring to the geographical location where the family's pottery workshops or kilns were situated. It is also possible that the name is connected to the placename "Kihara," a village near Kyoto that was known for its ceramic production.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the KIHARA family continued to be associated with the pottery trade, and their works were highly regarded by the nobility and samurai class. A notable figure from this era was KIHARA Nobutsugu (1521-1593), a skilled potter whose pieces were prized for their intricate designs and exceptional craftsmanship.

As the centuries passed, the KIHARA surname spread beyond the Kyoto region, and its bearers pursued various professions. One notable individual was KIHARA Kiyohide (1786-1866), a prominent scholar and writer during the late Edo period, who published works on Japanese literature and philosophy.

In more recent history, the name KIHARA has been carried by several influential figures, including KIHARA Nobutaka (1925-2011), a renowned physicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics and the study of cosmic rays.

Other notable individuals with the KIHARA surname include KIHARA Masao (1903-1986), a prominent Japanese botanist known for his research on wheat genetics and crop improvement, and KIHARA Satoko (born 1951), a former Japanese diplomat and the first woman to serve as the country's ambassador to the United Nations.

While the KIHARA surname has its origins in the world of traditional Japanese pottery, it has since branched out into various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural, scientific, and diplomatic realms of Japanese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kihara

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

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

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

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