Sanada
A clan name from an area in present-day Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Sanada. That puts it at #107,669 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sanada surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#107,669
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
165
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 165 bearers of the surname Sanada in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 107669th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanada, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.9%. The next largest groups are White (30.9%) and Two or More Races (13.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sanada
The surname SANADA originated in Japan during the late 16th century. It is a Japanese name derived from the word "sanada," which means "three valleys" or "three rice fields." The name likely originated in an area with three distinct valleys or rice fields.
The SANADA surname first appeared in historical records during the Sengoku period (1467-1615), a time of social upheaval and constant military conflict in Japan. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Sanada Nobuyuki (1566-1658), a prominent samurai warrior who fought alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Another notable figure from this era was Sanada Yukimura (1567-1615), a renowned samurai known for his bravery and loyalty. He fought fiercely against the Tokugawa forces at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which marked the end of the Sengoku period. Sanada Yukimura's exploits were widely celebrated in Japanese literature and folklore.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the SANADA clan continued to play a significant role in Japanese history. Sanada Nobuyuki's grandson, Sanada Nobuyuki (1599-1659), served as a prominent daimyo (feudal lord) and helped establish the family's legacy.
In the late 19th century, Sanada Yukitsugu (1836-1892) was a prominent statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in the modernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration.
Another notable individual with the SANADA surname was Sanada Hiroyuki (1938-2014), a renowned Japanese businessman and philanthropist. He served as the chairman of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) and was instrumental in the development of Japan's telecommunications infrastructure.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sanada
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanada, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.9%. The next largest groups are White (30.9%) and Two or More Races (13.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Sanada bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sanada surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander53.9%
- White30.9%
- Two or more races13.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sanada surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #107,669 | #107,669 | 0.0% |
| Count | 165 | 165 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sanada bearers went from 165 to 165 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #107,669 to #107,669.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sanada
FAQ
Sanada surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sanada?
The surname Sanada holds position #107,669 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sanada surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sanada, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 53.9%. The next largest groups are White (30.9%) and Two or More Races (13.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.