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

Masaoka, 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 Masaoka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Masaoka in America

Masaoka is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Masaoka surname appeared 104 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 Masaoka.

The history of the last name Masaoka

The surname Masaoka originates from Japan and dates back to the 8th century CE. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "masao," which means "righteous hero." The name was likely given to individuals who displayed great courage and honor in battle or other acts of bravery.

Masaoka was a common surname among the samurai warrior class of feudal Japan. The earliest known record of the name appears in the Shoku Nihongi, an imperial chronicle from the late 8th century, which mentions a samurai named Masaoka no Atsumaro.

In the 12th century, a branch of the Masaoka family settled in the Iga region of central Japan, known for its skilled ninjas. The Iga-ryu Ninja tradition has its roots in this area, and it is possible that some Masaoka clan members were trained in ninjutsu.

During the Sengoku period (1467-1600), a prominent figure named Masaoka Shiro (1515-1586) served as a loyal retainer to the powerful Tokugawa clan. He played a crucial role in the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, where the Tokugawa forces defeated their rivals, the Takeda clan.

Another notable Masaoka was Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902), a renowned Japanese poet and literary critic who is considered a pioneer of modern haiku. His real name was Masaoka Noboru, and he is credited with revitalizing and popularizing the haiku form in the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, Masaoka Shizue (1918-1966) was a prominent Japanese-American activist who fought for civil rights and played a crucial role in the World War II Japanese-American redress movement. She advocated for the fair treatment of Japanese-Americans who were interned during the war.

While the Masaoka surname has its roots in Japan, it has spread to other parts of the world through immigration and cultural exchange. However, its rich historical significance and associations with honor, bravery, and literary achievement remain deeply rooted in Japanese culture and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Masaoka

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

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 Masaoka 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.

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

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

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