2000
#125,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Shigaki
A Japanese surname meaning "camellia tree" or possibly derived from a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Shigaki. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Shigaki surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Shigaki in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Shigaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and White (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Shigaki
The surname "SHIGAKI" is believed to have originated in Japan, with roots dating back several centuries. This name likely derives from a combination of Japanese words or place names, though its precise etymology remains somewhat unclear.
One theory suggests that "SHIGAKI" may have originated from the Japanese word "shigaku," meaning "to study" or "to learn." This could indicate that the name may have been associated with scholars or individuals dedicated to pursuing knowledge and education. Alternatively, it may stem from a place name or topographical feature, as many Japanese surnames were derived from locations or geographical landmarks.
In terms of historical records, the name "SHIGAKI" can be traced back to ancient documents and manuscripts, though specific details are scarce. It is possible that this surname appeared in local records or family registries maintained by noble clans or samurai families during the feudal era of Japanese history.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "SHIGAKI" was Shigaki Masanobu, a renowned calligrapher and artist who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His works, particularly his calligraphic scrolls, are highly regarded and have been preserved in various museums and collections.
Another notable figure was Shigaki Toshihiro (1592-1667), a skilled swordsman and samurai who served under the powerful Tokugawa shogunate. He was known for his loyalty and bravery on the battlefield during the turbulent Sengoku period of Japanese history.
In the realm of literature, Shigaki Kyoko (1872-1944) was a celebrated poet and author who made significant contributions to the development of modern Japanese literature. Her works often explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape.
During the 20th century, Shigaki Hiroshi (1919-2001) gained prominence as a pioneering engineer and architect. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings and structures, including the Tokyo International Forum, which showcased his innovative approach to integrating modern design with traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Another individual of note was Shigaki Naoko (1937-2018), a renowned scholar and expert in Japanese traditional arts and culture. She dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the country's rich heritage, publishing numerous books and articles on topics such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and traditional dance.
While the surname "SHIGAKI" may not be as widely known as some other Japanese family names, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, from the arts and literature to warfare and engineering.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Shigaki
Among Census respondents with the surname Shigaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and White (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Shigaki bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Shigaki surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander80.8% · 80
- Hispanic or Latino9.1% · 9
- White5.1% · 5
- Two or more races5.1% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Shigaki
Shigaki appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-17 bearers (-13.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 24,813 places
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-10 bearers (-9.2%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 5,553 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #125,639 | 126 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | -17 bearers (-13.5%) | Down 24,813 places |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -10 bearers (-9.2%) | Down 5,553 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Shigaki surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #156,005 | -3.7% |
| Count | 109 | 99 | -9.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -17.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Shigaki bearers went from 109 to 99 (-9.2% change). The surname moved down 5,553 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #156,005.
FAQ
Shigaki surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Shigaki?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Shigaki. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Shigaki?
Shigaki ranks #156,005 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 99 people with the surname Shigaki. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Shigaki.
Has Shigaki become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Shigaki went from 109 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 10 (-9.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #150,452 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Shigaki?
Among Census respondents with the surname Shigaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and White (5.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Shigaki in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.8% (80 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Shigaki appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (80.8%), Hispanic (9.1%), White (5.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Shigaki (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Shigaki mean?
A Japanese surname meaning "camellia tree" or possibly derived from a place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Shigaki (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Shigaki?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.