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

Nishi, 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 Nishi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nishi in America

Nishi is the 32123rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nishi surname appeared 718 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 Nishi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nishi 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 Nishi

The surname NISHI is of Japanese origin, derived from the Japanese word "nishi" meaning "west." It is believed to have originated in the late 7th century during the Asuka period of Japan's history, when surnames began to emerge.

NISHI was likely used as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer or their ancestors lived in the western part of a particular region or village. In some cases, it may have also been used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who had traveled from the west or had some other association with that direction.

Early records of the NISHI surname can be found in various historical documents and genealogical records from medieval Japan. For example, the Kamakura period (1185-1333) saw the rise of the samurai class, and many NISHI families were renowned warriors and retainers of powerful daimyo (feudal lords).

One notable figure was Nishi Yoshinao (1262-1327), a skilled military commander who served under the Hojo clan during the Kamakura shogunate. Another was Nishi Munetaka (1319-1397), a renowned Buddhist monk and scholar during the Muromachi period.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the NISHI surname was particularly prevalent in the western regions of Japan, such as the provinces of Tosa (modern-day Kochi Prefecture) and Satsuma (modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture).

In the late 19th century, as Japan opened up to the West, several NISHI individuals made their mark in various fields. Nishi Amane (1829-1897) was a prominent philosopher and educator who played a significant role in introducing Western philosophy and ideas to Japan.

Another notable figure was Nishi Tokujiro (1846-1912), a pioneering engineer who designed and constructed some of Japan's earliest railroads and bridges, including the iconic Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

Throughout history, the NISHI surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, writers, politicians, and businesspeople. The name continues to be widely used in Japan today, reflecting its deep roots and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nishi

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

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

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

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