2000
#134,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Nakaji
A Japanese surname signifying a person from the center or middle district.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Nakaji. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nakaji 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
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Nakaji in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nakaji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 63.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.7%) and White (14.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nakaji
The surname Nakaji originates from Japan and dates back to the 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese words "naka," meaning "middle" or "center," and "ji," which can refer to a dwelling or residence. Historically, the name was prevalent in the central regions of Japan, particularly in the Kansai area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nakaji surname can be found in the "Ninbetsu-Chō" (population registers) from the Edo period (1603-1868). These registers were maintained by local authorities to keep track of residents and their occupations. Some entries mention individuals with the Nakaji surname, providing insights into their professions and social status during that time.
In the late 18th century, a notable figure named Nakaji Tōyō (1738-1823) gained recognition as a prominent scholar and poet. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of Japanese literature and his influential works, including the "Tōyō Bunshū" (Collected Works of Tōyō).
During the Meiji era (1868-1912), a military commander named Nakaji Masayoshi (1832-1901) played a significant role in the Boshin War, which led to the establishment of the modern Japanese state. His strategic leadership and bravery on the battlefield earned him respect and recognition.
Another individual of historical significance was Nakaji Sakura (1876-1942), a pioneering educator who advocated for women's education and founded several schools in Tokyo. Her efforts helped pave the way for greater educational opportunities for women in Japan.
In the realm of literature, Nakaji Kiyoko (1903-1988) was a celebrated novelist and poet known for her intimate portrayals of rural life and the struggles of ordinary people. Her works, such as "Nanohana" (Rapeseed Blossoms), garnered critical acclaim and shed light on the experiences of Japan's farming communities.
It is worth noting that the Nakaji surname has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations in Japan. For instance, the town of Nakaji-mura (Nakaji Village) in Fukuoka Prefecture was once a prominent area where individuals bearing this surname resided.
While the Nakaji surname may not have gained widespread international recognition, it has a rich history deeply rooted in Japanese culture, with individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, including literature, education, and military service.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nakaji
Among Census respondents with the surname Nakaji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 63.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.7%) and White (14.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Nakaji 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 Nakaji surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander63.2% · 67
- Two or more races21.7% · 23
- White14.2% · 15
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Nakaji
Nakaji 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
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
+11 bearers (+9.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 989 places
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-21 bearers (-16.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,291 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,037 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+9.5%) | Up 989 places |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | -21 bearers (-16.5%) | Down 19,291 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 Nakaji 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 | #133,048 | #152,339 | -14.5% |
| Count | 127 | 106 | -16.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -11.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nakaji bearers went from 127 to 106 (-16.5% change). The surname moved down 19,291 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #152,339.
FAQ
Nakaji surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Nakaji?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Nakaji. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Nakaji?
Nakaji ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 106 people with the surname Nakaji. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Nakaji.
Has Nakaji become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nakaji went from 127 recorded bearers to 106. That is a decrease of 21 (-16.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Nakaji?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nakaji, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 63.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.7%) and White (14.2%). 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 Nakaji in the 2020 Census, accounting for 63.2% (67 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Nakaji appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (63.2%), Two or More Races (21.7%), White (14.2%). 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 Nakaji (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 Nakaji mean?
A Japanese surname signifying a person from the center or middle district. 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 Nakaji (0.04 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 Americans have the surname Nakaji?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.