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

Kishi, 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 Kishi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kishi in America

Kishi is the 51723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kishi surname appeared 402 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 Kishi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kishi 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 Kishi

The surname KISHI has its origins in Japan, dating back to the late 8th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "kishi," which means "knight" or "samurai." In ancient Japan, the name was likely given to individuals who were part of the warrior class or had a connection to the military.

During the Heian period (794-1185), the KISHI name appeared in various historical records and documents, including the Shoku Nihongi, a chronicle of Japanese history. One notable individual from this era was KISHI no Masatsune, a renowned samurai and military strategist who lived in the 11th century.

As Japan transitioned into the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the KISHI name continued to hold significance, with several members of the family serving as loyal retainers to powerful daimyo (feudal lords). One such individual was KISHI Nobuyasu, a skilled archer and horseman who fought in the Genpei War (1180-1185).

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the KISHI family maintained their status as respected warriors and landowners. One prominent figure from this time was KISHI Yoshitaka, a daimyo who ruled over the Himeji Domain (present-day Hyogo Prefecture) in the early 17th century.

Moving into the modern era, the KISHI name has produced several notable individuals. In the late 19th century, KISHI Nobusuke (1896-1987) was a prominent Japanese politician who served as the 57th Prime Minister of Japan from 1957 to 1960.

Another influential figure with the KISHI surname was KISHI Keiko (1909-1996), a renowned Japanese author and poet who was a recipient of the prestigious Noma Literary Prize in 1963. Her works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition.

In the realm of sports, KISHI Teru (1932-2014) was a celebrated Japanese baseball player who played for the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

While the KISHI name has ancient roots in Japan, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with Japanese diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and lineage of this surname can be traced back to the prestigious warrior class of feudal Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kishi

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

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

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

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