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

Nakaya, 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 Nakaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nakaya in America

Nakaya is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nakaya surname appeared 139 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 Nakaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nakaya 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 Nakaya

The surname NAKAYA is of Japanese origin, tracing its roots back to the late 15th century or early 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Nagano region of central Japan, where the name was associated with families living in the countryside or mountainous areas. The word "naka" in Japanese can refer to the interior or middle of something, while "ya" may have been derived from the word for a mountain hut or shelter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NAKAYA name can be found in a local land registry from the Muromachi period (1336-1573), which documented families residing in the rural outskirts of what is now Nagano City. During this era, surnames were becoming more widespread among commoners, often reflecting their occupation, place of residence, or other descriptive elements.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the NAKAYA name appears in various feudal lord's records and village registers from the Nagano region. This suggests that families with this surname were likely involved in agricultural or forestry-related professions, given the name's connection to mountain dwellings.

One notable figure bearing the NAKAYA surname was Masataka Nakaya (1701-1773), a skilled woodcarver and sculptor from Nagano. His intricate works adorned several temples and shrines in the area, showcasing the artistic talents of the NAKAYA lineage.

Another historical reference comes from the Meiji era (1868-1912), when a Nakaya family from Nagano was among the early settlers in the newly colonized territory of Hokkaido. Their descendants played a role in the development of agriculture and forestry in the region.

In more recent times, the NAKAYA surname has been carried by individuals from various fields, such as Takeshi Nakaya (1886-1952), a prominent educator and founder of a renowned private school in Tokyo, and Hiroshi Nakaya (1932-2004), a pioneering scientist known for his research on artificial snow crystals.

Throughout its history, the NAKAYA surname has maintained a strong association with the mountain regions of central Japan, particularly Nagano Prefecture. Its origins reflect the lifestyle and occupations of rural families who lived in harmony with the natural surroundings of the Japanese Alps.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nakaya

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

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

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

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