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

Nitahara, 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 Nitahara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nitahara in America

Nitahara is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nitahara surname appeared 110 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 Nitahara.

The history of the last name Nitahara

The surname NITAHARA has its origins in Japan, where it first appeared during the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese words "nita," meaning "to resemble," and "hara," which can translate to "field" or "plain." This suggests the name may have initially referred to a person living in or near a particular type of field or plain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NITAHARA surname is found in a local census record from the Edo period, dating back to around 1625. This document lists a family by the name residing in a small village within the Chiba Prefecture. It's possible the name originated in this region before gradually spreading to other parts of Japan.

During the Tokugawa shogunate in the 17th century, a samurai warrior named Nitahara Shigenobu (1613-1689) gained recognition for his bravery and loyalty. He served under the prominent Tokugawa clan and was granted land holdings in what is now known as Shizuoka Prefecture.

In the late 18th century, a Buddhist monk named Nitahara Zenshi (1736-1804) became renowned for his calligraphy skills and teachings on mindfulness. His written works and artistic contributions are still studied and appreciated by scholars today.

Another notable figure was Nitahara Akiko (1828-1901), a pioneering educator who established one of Japan's first schools for women during the Meiji era. Her efforts helped pave the way for greater educational opportunities for women in Japanese society.

During the Edo period, the NITAHARA surname was also found in various records from the Kanagawa Prefecture, particularly in the town of Kamakura. It's believed that a branch of the family may have resided in this area, which was once the seat of the Kamakura shogunate.

As Japan entered the modern era, the NITAHARA surname continued to be associated with individuals who made significant contributions to various fields. One such person was Nitahara Kenji (1901-1983), a renowned physicist and academic who played a crucial role in advancing nuclear research in Japan after World War II.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nitahara

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

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

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

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