2000
#70,679
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 258
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Morishige
A Japanese surname derived from a place name containing the elements "mori" (forest) and "shige" (abundant).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 282 Americans carry the last name Morishige. That puts it at #82,600 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,215,441 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Morishige surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
282
1 in 1,215,441
Census rank
#82,600
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
246
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 246 bearers of the surname Morishige in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 82600th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Morishige, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (16.3%) and White (5.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Morishige
The surname Morishige is of Japanese origin, traced back to the 16th century or earlier. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese words "mori" meaning forest and "shige" meaning prosperous or luxuriant, suggesting a connection to a prosperous forested area or region.
Early records indicate that the name was prevalent in the Kansai region of western Japan, particularly in the areas around modern-day Osaka and Kyoto. Some of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in local tax records and property deeds from that era.
While no specific historical references to the name have been uncovered in major ancient texts or manuscripts, there are indications that families bearing the Morishige name held positions of influence and prominence within their local communities during the Edo period (1603-1868).
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Morishige surname was Morishige Kanekatsu (1497-1550), a renowned samurai warrior and military strategist who served under the powerful Ouchi clan in western Japan. His exploits and loyalty were celebrated in various local chronicles and records of the time.
Another notable figure was Morishige Yosoburo (1604-1672), a skilled swordsmith who was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and contribution to the art of sword-making. His works were highly prized by samurai and daimyo lords of the era.
In the 18th century, Morishige Takehiko (1728-1801) was a respected scholar and educator who made significant contributions to the study of Confucian philosophy and ethics. His writings and teachings influenced many intellectuals and leaders of the time.
The 19th century saw the rise of Morishige Tomiyo (1838-1897), a prominent businessman and entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in the early industrialization efforts of Japan. His ventures in textile manufacturing and trade helped establish a strong economic foundation for the country's modernization.
Lastly, Morishige Satoru (1892-1976) was a celebrated artist and printmaker whose works captured the essence of traditional Japanese landscapes and cultural motifs. His woodblock prints and paintings are highly regarded and displayed in prestigious museums and galleries around the world.
These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the Morishige surname throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of Japanese culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Morishige
Among Census respondents with the surname Morishige, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (16.3%) and White (5.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Morishige bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Morishige surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander71.5% · 176
- Two or more races16.3% · 40
- White5.7% · 14
- Hispanic or Latino5.7% · 14
- Black or African American0.4% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Morishige
Morishige appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#76,768
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 250
-8 bearers (-3.1%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Down 6,089 places
2020
#82,600
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 246
-4 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Down 5,832 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #70,679 | 258 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #76,768 | 250 | 0.08 | -8 bearers (-3.1%) | Down 6,089 places |
| 2020 | #82,600 | 246 | 0.08 | -4 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 5,832 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Morishige surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #76,768 | #82,600 | -7.6% |
| Count | 250 | 246 | -1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 2.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Morishige bearers went from 250 to 246 (-1.6% change). The surname moved down 5,832 positions in the national ranking, going from #76,768 to #82,600.
FAQ
Morishige surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Morishige?
Name Census estimates that about 282 living Americans carry the surname Morishige. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,215,441 residents.
How common is Morishige?
Morishige ranks #82,600 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 246 people with the surname Morishige. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (282), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Morishige.
Has Morishige become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Morishige went from 250 recorded bearers to 246. That is a decrease of 4 (-1.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #76,768 to #82,600.
What does the Census say about the background of Morishige?
Among Census respondents with the surname Morishige, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 71.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (16.3%) and White (5.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Morishige in the 2020 Census, accounting for 71.5% (176 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Morishige appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (71.5%), Two or More Races (16.3%), White (5.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Morishige (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Morishige mean?
A Japanese surname derived from a place name containing the elements "mori" (forest) and "shige" (abundant). The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Morishige (0.08 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Morishige?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the surname Morishige at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.