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

Nasu, 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 Nasu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nasu in America

Nasu is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nasu surname appeared 106 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 Nasu.

The history of the last name Nasu

The surname NASU originates from Japan, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 8th century. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "nasu," meaning "eggplant," possibly referring to a family's occupation or involvement in the cultivation of this vegetable.

One of the earliest known references to the NASU name can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early Japanese chronicle compiled in the late 8th century. The text mentions a person with the surname NASU serving as a provincial governor during the reign of Emperor Kammu.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the NASU family gained prominence as a samurai clan based in the Shimotsuke Province (modern-day Tochigi Prefecture). They were known for their involvement in various military campaigns and their allegiance to the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the NASU clan flourished as a prominent daimyo family, ruling over the Nasu Domain in the Shimotsuke Province. One notable figure from this era was NASU Narishige (1595-1665), a skilled military commander who fought alongside the Tokugawa shogunate.

In the late 19th century, NASU Masanao (1857-1913) was a pioneering educator and journalist who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan's education system. He founded the Nasu Institute, one of the first private schools in the country to adopt Western-style educational methods.

Another notable figure with the NASU surname is NASU Yukio (1932-2014), a renowned Japanese novelist and essayist. He was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1976 for his novel "Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho" (Beyond the Clouds, The Promised Place).

Throughout history, the NASU surname has been associated with various professions, from samurai warriors and daimyo lords to educators, writers, and influential figures in Japanese society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nasu

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

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 Nasu 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.

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

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

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