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

Kouchi, 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 Kouchi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kouchi in America

Kouchi is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kouchi 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 Kouchi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kouchi 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 Kouchi

The surname Kouchi is believed to have originated in Japan, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old Japanese word "kouchi," which means "inland sea" or "inner bay." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near an inland body of water or a coastal region with a bay-like formation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kouchi surname can be found in the "Azuma Kagami," a medieval Japanese historical chronicle from the late 13th century. This text mentions a prominent samurai warrior named Kouchi no Sukenari, who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and served under the Hojo clan.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Kouchi family emerged as a powerful clan in the western region of Japan, particularly in the present-day Kochi Prefecture. Historical records indicate that the Kouchi clan played a significant role in the region's politics and military affairs, with several members holding influential positions.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Kouchi Masanori (1546-1612) gained recognition as a skilled military strategist and daimyo (feudal lord). He was instrumental in the unification of the island of Shikoku under the Chosokabe clan's control during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).

Another prominent individual with the Kouchi surname was Kouchi Gengo (1630-1688), a Zen Buddhist monk and calligrapher who lived during the Edo period (1603-1868). He was renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills and contributed to the development of the Kouchi-ryū (Kouchi school) of calligraphy.

In the realm of literature, Kouchi Sōsuke (1846-1904) was a notable writer and poet who played a significant role in the development of modern Japanese literature during the Meiji period (1868-1912). His works, including poetry collections and novels, were highly acclaimed and influential.

While the Kouchi surname may have originated in Japan, it is important to note that surnames can transcend geographical boundaries and cultural contexts due to migration, intermarriage, and other historical events. As a result, individuals with the Kouchi surname may now be found in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kouchi

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

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

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

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