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

Shimazaki, 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 Shimazaki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shimazaki in America

Shimazaki is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shimazaki surname appeared 134 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 Shimazaki.

The history of the last name Shimazaki

The surname Shimazaki originates from Japan and dates back to the 8th century CE. It is derived from the Japanese words "shima" meaning island and "zaki" meaning peninsula or cape, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name lived on an island or coastal region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Shimazaki name can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient Japanese chronicle completed in 797 CE. The text mentions a clan leader named Shimazaki no Tomonori who held a prominent position during the Nara period (710-794 CE).

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the Shimazaki family gained recognition as skilled swordsmiths and samurai warriors. Historical records from this era mention Shimazaki Masatsune, a renowned swordsmith who crafted blades for the Kamakura shogunate.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the Shimazaki name was associated with several notable figures, including Shimazaki Toson (1572-1638), a prominent Confucian scholar and educator, and Shimazaki Masatsugu (1618-1693), a daimyo (feudal lord) who governed the Akita Domain.

The Meiji era (1868-1912 CE) saw the rise of Shimazaki Toson (1872-1943), a celebrated novelist and poet who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Japanese literature. His works, such as "Hakai" (The Broken Commandment) and "Yoakemae" (Before the Dawn), explored themes of social criticism and human nature.

Another notable figure with the Shimazaki surname was Shimazaki Aki (1910-1973), a renowned Japanese writer and poet. Her works, including "Chijin no Ai" (A Chastity of Admirable Women) and "Kuro no Shuzoku" (Black Dresses), often focused on the struggles and experiences of modern Japanese women.

Throughout its history, the Shimazaki surname has been associated with various professions, including samurai warriors, swordsmiths, scholars, educators, writers, and poets. While its origins can be traced back to the 8th century CE, the name continues to hold significance in Japanese culture and society today.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shimazaki

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

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 Shimazaki 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.

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

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

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