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

Murakawa, 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 Murakawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Murakawa in America

Murakawa is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Murakawa surname appeared 125 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 Murakawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Murakawa 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 Murakawa

The surname MURAKAWA is of Japanese origin, with its roots tracing back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. The name is derived from the combination of two words: "mura" meaning village, and "kawa" meaning river or stream. This suggests that the name likely originated from a region or settlement located near a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MURAKAWA can be found in the genealogical records of the Murakawa clan, a samurai family from the Echigo Province (modern-day Niigata Prefecture). The clan's lineage can be traced back to the 14th century, with notable members including Murakawa Kunisada, a skilled swordsman and military strategist who served the Uesugi clan during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).

In the late 16th century, the MURAKAWA name also appeared in the historical records of the Dewa Province (modern-day Yamagata Prefecture), where it was associated with a prominent farming community situated along the banks of the Mogami River. This region was known for its fertile lands and rice cultivation, suggesting that the MURAKAWA name may have originated from a family of influential landowners or agriculturists.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname MURAKAWA was Murakawa Yoshikazu (1556-1624), a renowned samurai and daimyo (feudal lord) who served under the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. Murakawa Yoshikazu played a crucial role in the pacification of the Aizu region (modern-day Fukushima Prefecture) and was rewarded with a substantial fief for his loyalty and military prowess.

Another notable figure bearing the MURAKAWA name was Murakawa Genshin (1605-1673), a Buddhist monk and scholar who authored several influential treatises on Zen philosophy and meditation practices. Murakawa Genshin's writings were widely studied and revered within the Buddhist community of his time.

During the Edo period, the MURAKAWA name also gained prominence in the field of traditional Japanese art and culture. Murakawa Keizo (1742-1816) was a renowned lacquerware artist whose works were highly sought after by nobility and affluent patrons. His intricate lacquer designs and techniques were passed down through generations of MURAKAWA artisans.

In the late 19th century, the MURAKAWA name found its way into the literary world with the birth of Murakawa Toshikazu (1870-1941), a celebrated novelist and poet. Murakawa Toshikazu's works often explored themes of love, nature, and the complexities of human relationships, earning him a place among the most influential writers of the Meiji era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Murakawa

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

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

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

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