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

Shintani, 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 Shintani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shintani in America

Shintani is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shintani surname appeared 319 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 Shintani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shintani 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 Shintani

The surname "SHINTANI" originates from Japan and is believed to have its roots in the Edo period (1603-1868). It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Shintani," which likely referred to a village or locality situated near a new rice field or paddy.

Records from the 17th century indicate that the Shintani family was a prominent samurai clan based in the Higo Province, located in present-day Kumamoto Prefecture. The name is thought to be a combination of the Japanese words "shin" meaning "new" and "tani" meaning "valley" or "paddy field."

One of the earliest known references to the Shintani name can be found in the "Higo Kuni Fudoki," a historical record from the early 8th century that documented the geography and customs of various regions in Japan. This text mentions a village named "Shintani-mura," which may have been the birthplace of the surname.

In the late 16th century, a renowned samurai named Shintani Yoshihiro (1535-1616) rose to prominence during the Sengoku period. He served under the powerful Otomo clan and played a crucial role in several battles against rival daimyo (feudal lords).

Another notable figure was Shintani Kinsuke (1770-1841), a skilled swordsmith and armor-maker from the Edo period. His works were highly sought after by samurai and daimyo across Japan for their exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.

During the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), the Shintani family was involved in the modernization efforts that transformed Japan into a global power. Shintani Takahiro (1845-1921) was a prominent statesman and diplomat who served as the ambassador to several European countries, including France and Russia.

In the field of arts and literature, Shintani Kazuko (1888-1967) was a celebrated novelist and poet known for her vivid depictions of rural life in Japan. Her works, such as "The Willow Tree" and "Seasons of the Heart," were widely acclaimed and translated into multiple languages.

The Shintani surname has also been associated with various notable figures in contemporary Japanese society, including politicians, businesspeople, and artists, though their specific contributions and historical significance may vary.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shintani

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

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

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

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