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

Murakami, 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 Murakami surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Murakami in America

Murakami is the 11174th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Murakami surname appeared 2,830 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Murakami.

We can also compare 2010 data for Murakami 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 Murakami

The surname Murakami is of Japanese origin, with its roots dating back to the ancient times of feudal Japan. In the Japanese language, "mura" means village, while "kami" translates to either god or ruler. Thus, the name Murakami likely originated as a title or descriptor for someone who held an esteemed position within a village or rural community.

The earliest recorded instances of the Murakami name can be traced back to the 12th century, during the Kamakura period of Japanese history. It is believed that the name was initially adopted by samurai families or those with close ties to the ruling shogunate of the time.

One of the earliest notable figures bearing the Murakami name was Murakami Michiyuki, a prominent samurai and military strategist who lived during the late 12th century. He played a crucial role in the Genpei War, a conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans that ultimately led to the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate.

In the 14th century, during the Muromachi period, the Murakami clan gained prominence as a powerful feudal family in the Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture). The Murakami daimyo (lords) ruled over a vast territory and wielded significant influence in the region.

Another notable figure in Japanese history bearing the Murakami surname was Murakami Yoshikiyo, a 16th-century samurai and daimyo who served under the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. He played a key role in the Battle of Sekigahara, one of the most significant conflicts that solidified the Tokugawa clan's control over Japan.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Murakami family continued to hold positions of power and influence in various domains across Japan. One such example was Murakami Nagatoshi, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the late 17th century and served as a retainer to the Tokugawa shogunate.

In more recent history, the Murakami name has been associated with several influential figures in the arts and literature. Haruki Murakami, born in 1949, is one of Japan's most celebrated and internationally acclaimed authors, known for his works such as "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "Norwegian Wood."

Overall, the surname Murakami has a rich and storied history in Japanese culture, spanning centuries and encompassing individuals from various walks of life, including samurai warriors, feudal lords, scholars, and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Murakami

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

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

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

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