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

Matayoshi, 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 Matayoshi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matayoshi in America

Matayoshi is the 77788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matayoshi surname appeared 246 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 Matayoshi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matayoshi 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 Matayoshi

The surname Matayoshi originates from Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. It is believed to have roots dating back to the 15th century, during the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The name is derived from the Okinawan language and is thought to be a combination of two words: "mata" meaning "village" and "yoshi" meaning "good" or "prosperous."

Matayoshi was likely a descriptive name given to families or individuals residing in a prosperous or well-established village during the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom, which existed from the 15th to the 19th century, had a unique cultural heritage that blended influences from Japan, China, and other regions of Southeast Asia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Matayoshi name can be found in the Omoro Soshi, a collection of Okinawan poems and songs from the 17th and 18th centuries. This literary work provides insights into the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Ryukyu Kingdom, where the Matayoshi name was likely already in use.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Matayoshi Koho (1767-1827) gained recognition as a skilled martial artist and teacher of the Okinawan martial art, Karate. He is credited with contributing to the development and preservation of the Matayoshi-style of Karate, which bears his surname.

Another important figure in Okinawan history was Matayoshi Koan (1888-1944), a renowned scholar and educator. He played a crucial role in promoting the study of Okinawan history, language, and culture during the early 20th century, when the island was under Japanese rule.

During the 19th century, the name Matayoshi also appeared in various administrative records and documents related to the governance of the Ryukyu Kingdom. For instance, Matayoshi Chobun (1808-1889) served as a prominent government official and diplomatic envoy, representing the kingdom in its dealings with China and Japan.

In more recent times, Matayoshi Ryo (1889-1977) gained recognition as a talented artist and calligrapher, known for his intricate brushwork and dedication to preserving the traditional arts of Okinawa.

While the Matayoshi surname has its roots firmly planted in the history and culture of Okinawa, its legacy has spread beyond the island, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields across Japan and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matayoshi

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

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

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

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