Miyazawa last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Miyazawa

A surname derived from a town name meaning "beautiful valley" in Japanese.

Miyazawa, 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 Miyazawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Miyazawa in America

Miyazawa is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Miyazawa surname appeared 166 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 Miyazawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Miyazawa 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 107134 101157 5.74%
Count 166 165 0.60%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.06 0.00%

The history of the last name Miyazawa

The surname Miyazawa is of Japanese origin, and its roots can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. The name is believed to have originated from the Miyazawa region, a historic area located in present-day Fukushima Prefecture. This region was known for its fertile lands and abundant rice fields, which may have influenced the name's meaning, often associated with "beautiful rice paddy" or "rice valley."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Miyazawa surname appears in the Edo-period document "Katsushika Gunshi" (History of Katsushika County), which chronicles the lives of prominent families in the region. This document mentions the Miyazawa clan as a respected and influential family in the area.

During the Edo period, a notable figure bearing the Miyazawa name was Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933), a renowned poet and author. His works, such as "Ame ni mo makezu" (Undefeated by the Rain) and "Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru" (Night on the Galactic Railroad), are celebrated for their vivid imagery and philosophical depth, making him one of Japan's most revered literary figures.

Another prominent individual was Miyazawa Sadao (1913-1995), a Japanese diplomat and ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. He played a crucial role in strengthening Japan's international relations during the post-World War II era.

In the realm of science, Miyazawa Akira (1923-2018) made significant contributions as a physicist. He was known for his work on solid-state physics and superconductivity, and his research helped advance our understanding of these fields.

Moving to the arts, Miyazawa Masao (1951-present) is a renowned Japanese calligrapher and artist. His works have been exhibited worldwide, and he is celebrated for his mastery of traditional Japanese calligraphy techniques.

Lastly, Miyazawa Kenichi (1962-present) is a contemporary Japanese author and playwright. His works often explore themes of human nature, societal issues, and the complexities of modern life, earning him critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.

The surname Miyazawa has a rich history deeply rooted in Japanese culture and tradition, with its origins dating back to the Edo period. Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions in various fields, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape and influence Japanese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Miyazawa

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

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 Miyazawa was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 89.76% 149
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 6.02% 10
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Miyazawa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% 3.64% (S)%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 89.76% 90.30% -0.60%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 6.02% 4.85% 21.53%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Miyazawa last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/miyazawa-surname-popularity/.

"Miyazawa last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/miyazawa-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Miyazawa last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/miyazawa-surname-popularity/.

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