Find out how popular the last name Koto is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Koto.
A Japanese surname referring to a stringed musical instrument similar to a zither.
Koto, 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 Koto surname is from the 2010 census data.
Koto is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Koto surname appeared 114 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 Koto.
The surname KOTO is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the regions of modern-day Ghana and Ivory Coast. It is thought to have derived from the Akan language, spoken by the Akan people of these regions. The name is likely related to the Akan word "koto," which means "peace" or "tranquility."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KOTO surname can be found in historical documents from the Kingdom of Ashanti, a prominent Akan empire that flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. These records mention individuals bearing the name KOTO, suggesting that the name has been in use for several centuries.
During the era of the transatlantic slave trade, many Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas, carrying their names and cultural traditions with them. It is possible that some individuals with the surname KOTO arrived in the Americas through this tragic period, contributing to the spread of the name across different regions.
In the Caribbean, one notable figure with the surname KOTO was Kwame KOTO, a Jamaican activist and writer who played a significant role in the country's independence movement in the mid-20th century. He was born in 1920 and passed away in 1985.
Another historical figure with the KOTO surname was Akua KOTO, a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist who lived from 1935 to 2008. Her works celebrated traditional Akan culture and gained international recognition.
In the United States, one prominent individual with the KOTO surname was Kofi KOTO, a lawyer and civil rights activist who fought against racial discrimination in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in 1942 and dedicated his life to advocating for social justice.
The name KOTO has also been found in various place names, particularly in West Africa. For example, Kotokoli is a town located in northern Togo, and Kotoku is a village in eastern Ghana. These place names may have connections to the KOTO surname, reflecting the geographical origins of the name.
While the KOTO surname is not as common as some other African surnames, it has a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the diverse and vibrant heritage of the Akan people and their descendants across the globe.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Koto.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Koto was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 27.19% | 31 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 19.30% | 22 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 43.86% | 50 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 8.77% | 10 |
Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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.
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 Koto was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/koto-surname-popularity/">Koto last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Koto last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/koto-surname-popularity/.
"Koto last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/koto-surname-popularity/. Accessed 9 July, 2025
Koto last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/koto-surname-popularity/.
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