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

Koshi, 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 Koshi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koshi in America

Koshi is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koshi surname appeared 161 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 Koshi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koshi 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 Koshi

The surname Koshi is of Japanese origin, with its earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Japanese word "koshi," which means "hips" or "loins." This name may have been given to individuals who were renowned for their strength or agility in martial arts or physical labor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Koshi name can be found in the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki, an ancient Japanese record of local customs and geography from the early 8th century. This document mentions a village called "Koshino," which could possibly be related to the surname's origins.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Koshi family is known to have resided in the Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan. Records from this time indicate that several members of the Koshi clan served as samurai warriors under the Kuroda clan, which ruled the region.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Koshi Yomoshichi (1735-1801) was a renowned master of the Jigen-ryu swordsmanship style. He is credited with preserving and propagating this ancient martial arts tradition, which has been passed down through generations.

Another prominent individual with the Koshi surname was Koshi Rikiya (1869-1949), a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the early years of the Showa era. He played a significant role in shaping Japan's international relations in the aftermath of World War I.

In the realm of literature, Koshi Masao (1912-1988) was a celebrated Japanese novelist and essayist. His works, such as "The Serpent's Egg" and "The Voyage of the Kon-Tiki," explored themes of human nature and cultural identity, earning him widespread critical acclaim.

Koshi Inaba (born 1964) is a contemporary Japanese musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band B'z. With his distinctive voice and songwriting abilities, he has contributed significantly to the band's success and popularity in Japan.

Throughout its history, the Koshi surname has been associated with various regions of Japan, including Fukuoka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. While its exact origins remain uncertain, the name's connection to physical strength and martial arts traditions has endured over the centuries, making it a distinctive and renowned surname in Japanese culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koshi

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

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

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

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