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

Murata, 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 Murata surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Murata in America

Murata is the 21048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Murata surname appeared 1,249 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 Murata.

We can also compare 2010 data for Murata 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 Murata

The surname MURATA has its origins in Japan, where it can be traced back to the 8th century AD. It is believed to derive from the Japanese word "murata," which means "village" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a particular village or settlement.

During the Heian period (794-1185 AD), the MURATA name appeared in various historical records and documents, indicating that it was already an established surname among the Japanese nobility and samurai class. One notable example is the Murata family, a prominent clan that served as vassals to the powerful Minamoto clan.

In the 13th century, a MURATA samurai named Murata Shukuro (1254-1334) was known for his bravery and loyalty during the Kamakura shogunate. He played a crucial role in the defense of Kamakura against the Hojo clan's forces and was later granted lands for his service.

Another historical figure bearing the MURATA surname was Murata Shukou (1418-1485), a renowned Zen Buddhist monk and calligrapher during the Muromachi period. His works and teachings had a significant influence on the development of Japanese calligraphy and Zen Buddhism.

In the late 16th century, Murata Jukoan (1573-1626) was a notable tea master and influential figure in the Japanese tea ceremony. He studied under the renowned tea master Sen no Rikyu and helped popularize the wabi-cha style of tea ceremony.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the MURATA name was also associated with several notable samurai families and daimyo (feudal lords). One such example was Murata Nobuyoshi (1637-1711), a daimyo who ruled over the Karatsu Domain in present-day Saga Prefecture.

Throughout its history, the MURATA surname has been closely tied to various aspects of Japanese culture, including the samurai tradition, Zen Buddhism, calligraphy, and the tea ceremony. While its origins may have been humble, referring to a village or settlement, the name has gained prominence and recognition over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Murata

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

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

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

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