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

Misawa, 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 Misawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Misawa in America

Misawa is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Misawa surname appeared 115 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 Misawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Misawa 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 Misawa

The surname Misawa originated in Japan, with its origins dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "misamura," which means "an estate with a view of the sea." This suggests that the name was initially associated with landowners or noblemen who owned properties with scenic views of the ocean.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Misawa name can be found in the "Shinano Kokugun Shuran" (Chronicles of the Provinces of Shinano), a historical document compiled in the late 16th century. This text references a samurai warrior named Misawa Katsunori, who served under the powerful Takeda clan during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Misawa family gained prominence in the Aizu region of present-day Fukushima Prefecture. Notable members included Misawa Masanori (1630-1688), a skilled swordsman and martial arts instructor, and Misawa Yoshiyuki (1772-1844), a renowned scholar and educator who established several private schools in the region.

In the 19th century, the Misawa name appeared in various historical records related to the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). One notable figure was Misawa Tsuyoshi (1832-1908), a samurai who fought alongside the pro-imperial forces and later served as a government official in the new Meiji administration.

Another prominent figure was Misawa Nobuo (1855-1933), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education. He founded several schools, including the Misawa Women's Academy, which became a prestigious institution in Tokyo.

In the 20th century, the Misawa name gained further recognition with individuals like Misawa Ibuki (1910-1997), a renowned author and poet who wrote extensively about rural life in Japan. His works were critically acclaimed and earned him numerous literary awards.

It's worth noting that the Misawa surname has also been associated with several place names in Japan, such as Misawa City in Aomori Prefecture and Misawa Air Base, a significant military installation operated by the United States Air Force.

While the above examples provide a glimpse into the historical significance of the Misawa surname, it's important to note that this name has been carried by countless individuals throughout Japan's rich history, each contributing to the nation's cultural, economic, and social fabric in their unique ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Misawa

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

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

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

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