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

Kyu, 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 Kyu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kyu in America

Kyu is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kyu surname appeared 220 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 Kyu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kyu 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 Kyu

The surname KYU has its origins in Japan, dating back to the 8th century AD. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "kyu," which means "bow" or "archery." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals skilled in archery or perhaps involved in military or hunting activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KYU can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient Japanese chronicle compiled in the 8th century. The text mentions a figure named Kyu no Sukeyori, who served as a court official during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

In the 12th century, the KYU name appeared in the Heike Monogatari, a historical tale that recounts the epic struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The text references a samurai warrior named Kyu no Tadatsugu, who fought valiantly in the Genpei War (1180-1185 AD).

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573 AD), the KYU name gained prominence in the Kyushu region of Japan. Records from this era indicate that a family of skilled archers and warriors bearing the KYU surname resided in the town of Kyu-machi, now part of modern-day Fukuoka Prefecture.

Notable individuals with the KYU surname include Kyu no Masatomo (1452-1529), a renowned swordsmith who crafted blades for the powerful Ouchi clan. His works are celebrated for their exceptional craftsmanship and are considered national treasures in Japan.

Another prominent figure was Kyu no Tsuneyoshi (1567-1634), a Confucian scholar and educator who established a renowned academy in Edo (present-day Tokyo). His teachings and writings had a significant impact on the intellectual and cultural development of Japan during the Edo period.

In the 19th century, Kyu no Tokuzo (1810-1888) was a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Osaka. He founded several schools and hospitals, and his contributions to education and social welfare earned him widespread respect and admiration.

It is important to note that while the surname KYU has a rich history in Japan, its prevalence has declined over time. Nevertheless, the name continues to hold cultural significance and reminds us of the nation's rich heritage and traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kyu

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

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

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

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