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

Sakamoto, 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 Sakamoto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sakamoto in America

Sakamoto is the 11478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sakamoto surname appeared 2,741 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 Sakamoto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sakamoto 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 Sakamoto

The surname Sakamoto originated in Japan and is believed to have been derived from the Japanese words "saka" meaning "slope" or "hill" and "moto" meaning "origin" or "source." This suggests that the name may have referred to people who lived near or originated from a hill or sloped area.

The earliest recorded instances of the Sakamoto surname can be traced back to the late 12th century during the Kamakura period in Japan. It is documented in historical records and family genealogies from that time, indicating its long-standing presence in Japanese society.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Sakamoto surname was Sakamoto Mochizane, a prominent courtier and scholar who lived during the late Heian period (794-1185). He served as a tutor to the imperial court and was renowned for his literary talents.

In the 16th century, during the Sengoku period, the Sakamoto clan emerged as a prominent samurai family in the Tosa Domain (present-day Kochi Prefecture). Sakamoto Nobumori, born in 1510, was a prominent daimyo (feudal lord) and military commander who played a significant role in the region's political affairs.

Another notable figure with the Sakamoto surname was Sakamoto Ryoma, a prominent samurai and influential figure in the Bakumatsu period (1853-1867). Born in 1836, he played a crucial role in the events leading to the Meiji Restoration, which marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the transition to the modern era of Japan.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Sakamoto family had branches in various regions of Japan, including Echizen (present-day Fukui Prefecture) and Kozuke (present-day Gunma Prefecture). Sakamoto Kōkichi, born in 1755, was a prominent scholar and Confucian philosopher from the Echizen branch.

In more recent history, Sakamoto Ryuichi, born in 1952, is a renowned Japanese singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has had a successful music career spanning several decades and is widely recognized for his contributions to the Japanese music industry.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the Sakamoto surname throughout Japanese history, showcasing the name's long-standing presence and significance in various fields and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sakamoto

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

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

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

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