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

Nishikawa, 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 Nishikawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nishikawa in America

Nishikawa is the 25902nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nishikawa surname appeared 949 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 Nishikawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nishikawa 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 Nishikawa

The surname Nishikawa has its origins in Japan, dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, referring to a village or location where the Nishikawa family originated. The word "nishi" means "west" in Japanese, while "kawa" translates to "river." This suggests that the name likely originated from a settlement situated on the western side of a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nishikawa name can be found in the chronicles of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867. During this period, the Nishikawa family played a prominent role in various domains and administrative positions within the shogunate's government.

A notable figure bearing the Nishikawa name was Nishikawa Joken (1648-1724), a renowned Zen Buddhist monk and poet during the Edo period. His literary works and teachings had a significant influence on the development of the Japanese literary and spiritual traditions of that era.

Another historical reference to the Nishikawa name can be found in the records of the Satsuma Domain, a powerful feudal domain located in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture. Nishikawa Yoshisada (1755-1834) was a prominent samurai and military strategist who served the Satsuma clan during the late Edo period.

In the realm of science, Nishikawa Joken (1846-1915) was a pioneering botanist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of Japanese flora. His extensive research and publications helped establish the field of botany in Japan.

During the Meiji Restoration and the subsequent modernization of Japan, the Nishikawa family continued to play an influential role in various fields. Nishikawa Yoshiaki (1865-1942) was a renowned businessman and entrepreneur who played a crucial role in the development of the Japanese silk industry, establishing trading networks with Western markets.

While the Nishikawa name has its origins in Japan, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, the majority of individuals bearing this surname can trace their roots back to the rich historical and cultural heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nishikawa

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

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

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

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