Kitano
From a Japanese place name meaning "north field".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Kitano. That puts it at #94,311 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kitano 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#94,311
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
194
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 194 bearers of the surname Kitano in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 94311th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kitano, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.9%. The next largest groups are White (10.8%) and Two or More Races (6.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kitano
The surname Kitano originates from Japan and has its roots in the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "kita," meaning north, and "no," meaning field or plain, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to a person who lived in a northern field or plain area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kitano can be found in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), where it appears in some historical documents related to samurai families and landowners in the Kansai region of Japan. During this time, the name was often written using the kanji characters 北野, which carry the same meaning as the etymological origin.
In the Edo period (1603-1868), the Kitano surname gained prominence in the city of Kyoto, where a prominent merchant family with this name established themselves. The family's wealth and influence grew, and they became known for their involvement in the textile trade and their support of cultural and artistic endeavors.
One notable figure bearing the Kitano surname was Kitano Tenjin Enari (1516-1594), a renowned Shinto priest and scholar who served at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. This shrine, dedicated to the deified form of the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, became a significant center of learning and culture during his tenure.
Another historical figure with the Kitano surname was Kitano Tsunetomi (1635-1705), a prominent Confucian scholar and philosopher who served as a court advisor during the Edo period. His writings on ethics and governance were highly influential and contributed to the development of Neo-Confucian thought in Japan.
During the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Kitano family from Kyoto continued to play a role in the cultural and economic life of the city. One notable member was Kitano Tomotari (1857-1932), a successful businessman and philanthropist who established several educational institutions and supported the preservation of traditional Japanese arts and crafts.
In the 20th century, the name Kitano gained international recognition through the work of the celebrated film director Kitano Takeshi (born 1947), known for his distinctive cinematic style and exploration of themes such as violence, alienation, and human resilience.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kitano
Among Census respondents with the surname Kitano, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.9%. The next largest groups are White (10.8%) and Two or More Races (6.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Kitano 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 Kitano surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander79.9%
- White10.8%
- Two or more races6.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kitano surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #96,918 | #94,311 | 2.7% |
| Count | 174 | 194 | 11.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.07 | 16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Kitano bearers went from 174 to 194 (+11.5% change). The surname moved up 2,607 positions in the national ranking, going from #96,918 to #94,311.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kitano
FAQ
Kitano surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kitano?
The surname Kitano holds position #94,311 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kitano surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kitano, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 79.9%. The next largest groups are White (10.8%) and Two or More Races (6.2%). 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.