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

Morinaka, 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 Morinaka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Morinaka in America

Morinaka is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Morinaka surname appeared 105 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 Morinaka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Morinaka 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 Morinaka

The surname MORINAKA originates from Japan, with its roots traced back to the 8th century CE. It is a compound name derived from the Japanese words "mori," meaning "forest," and "naka," meaning "middle" or "center." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals residing in or near forested areas.

In ancient Japanese records, variations of the name, such as MORINAGA and MORINAKATA, can be found. These early spellings indicate the fluidity of surname conventions in Japan's feudal era, where names often reflected one's occupation, location, or familial lineage.

One of the earliest documented references to the MORINAKA surname dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Azuma Kagami, a historical chronicle of the Kamakura Shogunate. The text mentions a samurai warrior named MORINAKA Nobuyuki, who fought in the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the MORINAKA name gained prominence among the samurai class and landed gentry. Historical records from this era mention MORINAKA Kanenobu (1568-1634), a celebrated poet and calligrapher who served under the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Another notable figure was MORINAKA Chikayoshi (1787-1856), a prominent scholar and educator who established one of the earliest modern schools in Japan, promoting the study of Western sciences and languages.

In the 19th century, the MORINAKA surname was also associated with the village of Morinakata in Niigata Prefecture, a region known for its rich agricultural heritage and scenic mountain landscapes.

Throughout Japanese history, several individuals bearing the MORINAKA name have left their mark in various fields, including:

1. MORINAKA Nobuyuki (late 12th century) - Samurai warrior during the Genpei War
2. MORINAKA Kanenobu (1568-1634) - Poet and calligrapher in the Edo period
3. MORINAKA Chikayoshi (1787-1856) - Scholar and educator during the late Edo period
4. MORINAKA Masao (1913-1999) - Renowned artist and printmaker
5. MORINAKA Hiroshi (born 1940) - Acclaimed film director and screenwriter

The MORINAKA surname continues to be widely used in Japan today, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance it has carried through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Morinaka

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

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

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

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