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

Kono, 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 Kono surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kono in America

Kono is the 21553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kono surname appeared 1,211 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 Kono.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kono 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 Kono

The surname KONO is believed to have originated in Japan, tracing its roots back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the Japanese word "kono," which means "this" or "here." This name is thought to have been used as a descriptive identifier for a person or family residing in a particular location.

During the Heian period (794-1185 AD), the KONO name can be found in various historical records and documents, indicating its widespread use among the Japanese nobility and samurai class. One notable figure bearing this surname was KONO Michiari (1106-1180), a renowned poet and scholar who served at the imperial court.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the KONO name gained further prominence. KONO Moronao (1170-1238), a skilled military strategist, played a crucial role in the Genpei War, which marked the transition of power from the aristocratic clans to the warrior class.

The Edo period (1603-1868 AD) saw the rise of several influential KONO families. KONO Nobuyuki (1565-1639), a daimyo (feudal lord) and skilled administrator, was renowned for his governance of the Hiroshima domain. KONO Bairei (1844-1895), a celebrated artist and painter, is renowned for his woodblock prints and depictions of flora and fauna.

Another notable figure was KONO Torajiro (1842-1927), a pioneering industrialist who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan during the Meiji era. He established the Kono Cotton Spinning Company, which became a major contributor to the country's textile industry.

In more recent times, KONO Ichiro (1941-2022) was a prominent Japanese diplomat and politician who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and played a crucial role in international affairs.

While the KONO surname has its roots in Japan, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration and cultural exchanges. However, the majority of individuals bearing this surname can trace their lineage back to Japan and its rich historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kono

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

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

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

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