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

Miyoshi, 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 Miyoshi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Miyoshi in America

Miyoshi is the 45412th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Miyoshi surname appeared 471 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 Miyoshi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Miyoshi 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 Miyoshi

The surname Miyoshi originated in Japan, with records dating back to the 8th century. The name derives from the Japanese words "mi" meaning "beautiful" and "yoshi" meaning "good luck" or "fortune." It is believed to have originated in the Miyoshi region of Hiroshima Prefecture, where the earliest known bearers of the name lived.

In the 12th century, the Miyoshi clan rose to prominence as powerful feudal lords in western Japan. They played a significant role in the Genpei War, a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of the country. The Miyoshi clan supported the Minamoto side, and their leader, Miyoshi Yasunobu, was instrumental in the victory that established the Kamakura Shogunate.

The Miyoshi name appears in several historical records and manuscripts from the medieval period, including the Azuma Kagami, a chronicle of the Kamakura Shogunate. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Miyoshi Yasunobu (c. 1170-1245), the head of the Miyoshi clan during the Genpei War.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures with the surname Miyoshi. One of the most famous was Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522-1564), a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) during the Sengoku period. He was known for his military exploits and his efforts to unify the Chūgoku region of western Japan.

Another notable figure was Miyoshi Masayuki (1516-1567), a renowned samurai and retainer of the Miyoshi clan. He played a crucial role in the clan's battles against rival daimyo and was known for his bravery and loyalty.

In the field of arts and culture, Miyoshi Yozo (1900-1982) was a prominent Japanese painter and printmaker. He is renowned for his woodblock prints depicting traditional Japanese landscapes and scenes.

Miyoshi Isamu (1938-2022) was a renowned Japanese architect known for his innovative and sustainable designs. He was awarded the Pritzker Prize, considered the highest honor in architecture, in 2005.

Miyoshi Umeko (1900-1932) was a pioneering Japanese feminist and writer. She advocated for women's rights and wrote about the challenges faced by women in early 20th century Japan.

The surname Miyoshi has a rich history and has been borne by notable figures across various fields throughout Japanese history. While its origins can be traced back to the 8th century, the name continues to be carried on by individuals of Japanese descent around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Miyoshi

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

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

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

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