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

Sameshima, 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 Sameshima surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sameshima in America

Sameshima is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sameshima surname appeared 152 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 Sameshima.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sameshima 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 Sameshima

The surname Sameshima is of Japanese origin, originating from the island of Kyushu in the Kagoshima Prefecture. It is believed to have emerged around the 16th century during the Sengoku period, a time of social and political upheaval in Japan.

The name Sameshima is derived from the Japanese words "same" meaning "shark" and "shima" meaning "island". This suggests that the name may have originated from a place or locality known for its connection to sharks or shark fishing. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive name given to someone who lived near or frequented an island associated with sharks.

While there are no specific historical references to the name Sameshima in ancient manuscripts or records, it is likely that the name was initially adopted by a prominent family or clan in the Kagoshima region during the feudal period. Over time, the name would have spread as members of the family migrated or married into other families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sameshima dates back to the late 17th century, when a samurai named Sameshima Masanori (1634-1708) served under the Shimazu clan, a powerful feudal family in Kagoshima. Masanori was known for his military prowess and loyalty to the Shimazu lords.

Another notable figure was Sameshima Naonobu (1790-1867), a scholar and educator who played a significant role in the development of modern education in Japan during the Bakumatsu period. He established several schools and advocated for the study of Western sciences and disciplines.

In the 19th century, Sameshima Shunpei (1824-1893) was a prominent artist and printmaker from Kyoto, known for his woodblock prints depicting scenes from Kabuki theater and Japanese folklore. His works are highly regarded and can be found in various museums and collections around the world.

During the Meiji Restoration, Sameshima Hirobumi (1855-1923) was a influential politician and statesman who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Japan from 1892 to 1896. He was instrumental in modernizing Japan's political and military systems and played a key role in the country's industrialization efforts.

More recently, Sameshima Hiroshi (1939-2023) was a renowned architect and urban planner who designed several iconic buildings and urban landscapes in Japan, including the Tokyo International Forum and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Throughout its history, the surname Sameshima has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including samurai, scholars, artists, politicians, and architects, reflecting the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sameshima

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

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

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

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