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

Shimomura, 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 Shimomura surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shimomura in America

Shimomura is the 64721st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shimomura surname appeared 307 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 Shimomura.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shimomura 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 Shimomura

The surname Shimomura originates from Japan and dates back to ancient times. It is a compound word derived from the Japanese words "shimo," meaning "below" or "lower," and "mura," meaning "village" or "town." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person or family residing in a lower or downhill village or settlement.

The earliest recorded instances of the Shimomura name can be traced back to the 8th century, during the Nara period (710-794 CE) in Japan. It is believed to have emerged as a locational surname, identifying individuals based on their place of residence or origin. Historical records from that era, such as the Shoku Nihongi (a chronicle of Japanese history), mention individuals bearing the Shimomura surname.

In the 12th century, during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), a prominent Shimomura clan emerged in the Kyushu region of Japan. They were influential landowners and samurai who played significant roles in regional affairs. One notable figure from this clan was Shimomura Nobumori (1175-1233), a skilled military commander who served under the Kamakura shogunate.

Another historically significant individual with the Shimomura surname was Shimomura Anjin (1564-1638), also known as William Adams, an English navigator and sailor who was among the first Westerners to reach Japan. He played a crucial role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between Japan and England in the early 17th century.

In the field of science, Shimomura Osamu (1928-2018) was a distinguished Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008. His groundbreaking work on the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP) revolutionized the field of bioimaging and contributed significantly to our understanding of cellular processes.

The Shimomura surname has also been prominent in the arts. Shimomura Kanzan (1873-1930) was a renowned Japanese painter and printmaker known for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints depicting traditional Japanese scenes and landscapes. His works are celebrated for their meticulous attention to detail and their ability to capture the essence of Japanese culture.

While the Shimomura name has its origins in Japan, it has also been adopted and carried by individuals and families in other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the rich historical and cultural significance of this surname remains deeply rooted in its Japanese heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shimomura

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

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

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

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