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

Koi, 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 Koi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koi in America

Koi is the 100302nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koi surname appeared 180 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 Koi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koi 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 Koi

The surname KOI has its origins in Japan, where it can be traced back to the 8th century. It is derived from the Japanese word "koi," which means "carp" or "crucian carp." The carp is a revered symbol in Japanese culture, representing perseverance, strength, and good fortune.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KOI can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient chronicle of Japanese history completed in 797 AD. This document mentions a nobleman named Koi no Sukune, who served as a military commander during the reign of Emperor Shomu.

During the Heian period (794-1185 AD), the KOI surname was particularly prominent among the samurai class. Several notable samurai warriors bore this name, including Koi Masataka (1263-1330), who fought alongside the legendary Minamoto no Yoshitsune during the Genpei War.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the KOI family was known for their skilled swordsmiths. One of the most renowned members was Koi Kunitsugu (1273-1337), whose swords were highly sought after by samurai across Japan.

As the KOI surname spread throughout Japan, it also became associated with various place names. For example, the village of Koinogawa in Toyama Prefecture is believed to have derived its name from the KOI family that once resided there.

Among the notable individuals with the KOI surname throughout history are:

1. Koi Takamori (1604-1672), a Confucian scholar and poet during the Edo period.
2. Koi Amane (1819-1867), a prominent philosopher and educator who played a significant role in the Meiji Restoration.
3. Koi Hiroshi (1903-1988), a celebrated Japanese painter known for his portraits and landscapes.
4. Koi Takayuki (born 1952), a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in Tokyo.
5. Koi Ayako (born 1976), a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur who founded a popular cosmetics company.

While the surname KOI has a rich history spanning centuries, it continues to be a prominent name in modern Japan, carried by individuals from various walks of life who contribute to the country's cultural and societal fabric.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koi

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

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

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

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