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

Ryu, 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 Ryu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ryu in America

Ryu is the 11543rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ryu surname appeared 2,723 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ryu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ryu 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 Ryu

The surname RYU is of Japanese origin, tracing its roots back to the 8th century AD. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "ryu," meaning "dragon" or "stream." The name was initially associated with regions near rivers or areas known for their dragon folklore.

In ancient Japanese records, the earliest mention of the RYU surname can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, a historical text from the 8th century AD. This chronicle mentions a noble family called Ryu no Uji, which held significant influence in the eastern regions of Japan during the Nara period.

During the Kamakura era, which spanned from 1185 to 1333 AD, the RYU surname gained prominence among samurai clans. One notable figure was Ryu Tomomune, a skilled warrior who served under the Hojo clan in the late 12th century. He was renowned for his bravery and loyalty on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, a prominent RYU family emerged in the Kyoto region. This family was known for their expertise in traditional Japanese arts, such as calligraphy and poetry. One member, Ryu Shinkei (1511-1588), was a renowned calligrapher and painter who served as a court artist during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

The RYU surname also has connections to various place names in Japan. For instance, the town of Ryuoh, located in Shiga Prefecture, was named after a local RYU clan that governed the area during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Another notable figure was Ryu Kwansai (1693-1756), a Confucian scholar and philosopher who contributed significantly to the Neo-Confucian movement in Japan. His teachings and writings had a profound influence on the intellectual circles of his time.

In the 19th century, Ryu Koshin (1828-1909) was a prominent military leader and strategist who played a crucial role in the Boshin War, which marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule in Japan.

While the RYU surname is primarily associated with Japan, it has also been adopted by individuals of Japanese descent in other parts of the world, reflecting the historical migrations and cultural exchanges that have taken place over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ryu

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

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

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

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