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

Kuriyama, 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 Kuriyama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kuriyama in America

Kuriyama is the 97671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kuriyama surname appeared 186 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 Kuriyama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kuriyama 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 Kuriyama

The surname Kuriyama is of Japanese origin, originating from the Edo period (1603-1868). It is believed to have derived from the Japanese words "kuri" meaning chestnut and "yama" meaning mountain, suggesting that the name may have originated from a place or region known for its chestnut trees or mountains.

Records indicate that the Kuriyama name first appeared in the Shizuoka prefecture, located in the Chubu region of Honshu island. The earliest known reference to the name dates back to the late 17th century, where it appears in a local census record from the village of Kuriyama-mura.

During the Edo period, the Kuriyama family was likely involved in agriculture or forestry, as many surnames from that era were derived from occupations or geographical features. However, there are no notable historical figures or events directly associated with the Kuriyama name from that time.

The first notable person with the Kuriyama surname was Kuriyama Shigeharu (1832-1892), a Samurai and military commander who served under the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Bakumatsu period. He was known for his loyalty and bravery in battle.

Another influential figure was Kuriyama Masao (1891-1968), a renowned Japanese painter and printmaker. He was a prominent figure in the Sosaku Hanga movement, which emphasized artist-made woodblock prints. His works are featured in many prestigious collections worldwide.

In the field of literature, Kuriyama Riyo (1901-1977) was a celebrated novelist and poet. She was known for her poetic prose and her ability to capture the essence of rural life in Japan. Her most famous work, "The Wind from the Village," received critical acclaim.

More recently, Kuriyama Tomoko (born 1980) is a successful Japanese actress and model. She has appeared in numerous films, television dramas, and stage productions, and is widely regarded as one of Japan's most talented and versatile performers.

Lastly, Kuriyama Rikako (born 1988) is a professional tennis player who has represented Japan in various international competitions, including the Olympic Games. She has won several singles and doubles titles on the WTA Tour.

While the Kuriyama name may not be as widely recognized as some other Japanese surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kuriyama

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

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

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

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