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

Namba, 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 Namba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Namba in America

Namba is the 45189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Namba surname appeared 474 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 Namba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Namba 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 Namba

The surname NAMBA is believed to have originated in Japan, stemming from the Japanese word "namba" or "namba-san," which means "field" or "farm." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived or worked on a farm or in an agricultural area.

The earliest known records of the NAMBA surname date back to the late 16th century in the Osaka region of Japan. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Nanba" or "Nanbasan," reflecting the local dialect and pronunciation.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the NAMBA surname was Nanba Masayuki (1564-1623), a prominent samurai and retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate. He served under Tokugawa Ieyasu and played a crucial role in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which solidified the Tokugawa clan's control over Japan.

In the 17th century, the NAMBA surname appeared in various historical records, including tax registers and land ownership documents. For instance, Nanba Nobunari (1629-1701) was a wealthy landowner and merchant in the city of Osaka, known for his contributions to the local economy and cultural activities.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the NAMBA family maintained a presence in the Osaka region, with some members serving as low-ranking samurai or working in various trades and professions. One notable figure was Nanba Michiyuki (1773-1847), a scholar and calligrapher who authored several works on Japanese literature and poetry.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Japan underwent modernization and urbanization, the NAMBA surname spread to other parts of the country. One prominent individual was Namba Chuzaburo (1856-1923), a politician and entrepreneur from Osaka who played a significant role in the industrialization of the city.

Another notable figure was Namba Kazumichi (1885-1957), a physicist and educator who made important contributions to the study of X-rays and the development of scientific education in Japan.

Throughout its history, the NAMBA surname has maintained a strong association with the Osaka region, particularly in areas known for agriculture and farming. While the name has spread across Japan and even internationally, its roots can be traced back to the fertile fields and farming communities of ancient Osaka.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Namba

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

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

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

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