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

Kobayashi, 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 Kobayashi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kobayashi in America

Kobayashi is the 8568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kobayashi surname appeared 3,845 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kobayashi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kobayashi 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 Kobayashi

The surname Kobayashi is of Japanese origin, with its roots dating back several centuries. It is believed to have originated from the region around Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan, during the Heian period (794-1185 CE).

The name Kobayashi is a combination of two kanji characters, "ko" meaning "small" or "little," and "bayashi" meaning "forest" or "grove." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a person or family living in or near a small woodland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kobayashi name can be found in the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), when a samurai warrior named Kobayashi Masatsune is mentioned in historical accounts for his bravery during the Mongol invasions of Japan.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573 CE), the Kobayashi clan established itself as a prominent feudal family in the Kinki region, which includes present-day Kyoto and Osaka. They were known for their skilled swordsmanship and loyalty to the shogunate.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), a renowned poet named Kobayashi Issā (1763-1827) gained fame for his haiku poetry and his unique perspective on nature and the human experience. His works are still widely studied and celebrated today.

Another notable figure bearing the Kobayashi name was Kobayashi Issa (1784-1842), a physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in Japan. He is credited with the discovery and classification of several new plant species.

In more recent history, Kobayashi Kenji (1900-1992) was a prominent Japanese politician who served as the Minister of Education and Science in the 1960s. He played a pivotal role in reforming Japan's education system in the post-World War II era.

Kobayashi Masaki (1916-1996) was a celebrated Japanese author and essayist known for his insightful works on Japanese culture, history, and philosophy. His books, such as "Bushido: The Soul of Japan," have been widely translated and have influenced Western perceptions of Japanese values.

While the Kobayashi surname is most commonly found in Japan, it has also gained a global presence as Japanese communities have spread around the world. However, its historical roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural tapestry of ancient Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kobayashi

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

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

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

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