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

Ryou, 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 Ryou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ryou in America

Ryou is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ryou surname appeared 138 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 Ryou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ryou 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 Ryou

The surname RYOU has its origins in Japan, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Japanese word "ryō" which means "territory" or "province," suggesting that the name may have been adopted by individuals or families who resided in a particular region or held authority over a specific area.

In the early 17th century, the name RYOU appears in the records of the Tokugawa shogunate, which governed Japan from 1603 to 1867. During this period, the Ryou family is mentioned as being part of the samurai class, with members serving as retainers to various daimyo (feudal lords).

One notable figure bearing the surname RYOU was Ryou Shigeharu (1589-1665), a skilled swordsman and military strategist who served under the renowned daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ryou Shigeharu played a pivotal role in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which solidified the Tokugawa shogunate's control over Japan.

The name RYOU can also be traced back to the ancient Japanese province of Ryōnai, which was located in present-day Yamagata Prefecture. It is possible that some individuals or families adopted the surname RYOU after migrating from this region or as a way to honor their ancestral ties to the area.

In the late 19th century, during the Meiji Restoration, the RYOU surname emerged in various historical records and documents, indicating its continued presence in Japanese society. One notable figure from this era was Ryou Toshikazu (1860-1925), a prominent educator and philosopher who founded the Ryou Academy, a prestigious institution dedicated to promoting Western-style education in Japan.

During the 20th century, the RYOU surname gained further recognition with individuals such as Ryou Kazuko (1904-1992), a renowned author and feminist who advocated for women's rights and gender equality in Japan. Her literary works, including the novel "The Wind Has Risen," explored themes of social injustice and the struggle for women's emancipation.

While the surname RYOU may not be as widely known as some other Japanese surnames, it holds a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including military strategy, education, literature, and social reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ryou

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

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

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

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