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

Nakao, 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 Nakao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nakao in America

Nakao is the 34916th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nakao surname appeared 646 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 Nakao.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nakao 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 Nakao

The surname NAKAO originates from Japan, with its roots tracing back to the early Edo period (1603-1868). The name likely derives from the Japanese words "naka," meaning "middle" or "inside," and "o," meaning "small." It may have been a descriptive surname referring to a person's residence or location within a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the NAKAO surname can be found in the "Shinokosho," a genealogical record of samurai families from the Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture), dating back to the late 16th century. This suggests that the name was initially associated with the warrior class during the feudal era.

During the Edo period, the NAKAO family gained prominence in various regions of Japan, particularly in the Kansai and Chubu areas. Notable individuals from this time include Nakao Hisanari (1640-1704), a prominent daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled over the Tsu Domain in present-day Mie Prefecture.

As Japan transitioned into the modern era, the NAKAO surname continued to spread across the country. In the late 19th century, Nakao Tomio (1857-1923) gained recognition as a pioneering educator and founder of the Nakao School, one of the earliest private educational institutions in Tokyo.

Another notable figure was Nakao Sasuke (1916-1942), a Japanese naval officer and pilot who became a war hero during the Battle of the Coral Sea in World War II. His bravery and sacrifice earned him posthumous honors from the Imperial Japanese Navy.

In the field of literature, Nakao Kazunari (1926-2019) was a celebrated author and poet, known for his works exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition. His poetry collections, such as "Tsuki no Hikari" (Moonlight), received critical acclaim and cemented his place in Japanese literary history.

Throughout the centuries, the NAKAO surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, politicians, and business leaders. While it may have originated as a descriptive name, it has evolved to represent the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nakao

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

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

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

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