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

Shirakawa, 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 Shirakawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shirakawa in America

Shirakawa is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shirakawa surname appeared 122 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 Shirakawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shirakawa 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 Shirakawa

The surname Shirakawa originates from Japan, with its roots tracing back to the late 16th century. The name is derived from the Japanese words "shira" meaning "white" and "kawa" meaning "river," suggesting a connection to a particular geographical location near a white river or stream.

In ancient Japan, surnames were often derived from the names of places or natural features, reflecting the strong ties between families and their ancestral lands. The Shirakawa name may have been adopted by a prominent family or clan residing near a river with white waters, possibly due to the presence of minerals or the reflection of sunlight.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Shirakawa name can be found in the "Nihon Shoki," an ancient chronicle of Japan's imperial history, compiled in the 8th century. The text mentions a high-ranking official named Shirakawa no Kiyomaro, who served during the reign of Emperor Temmu in the late 7th century.

Another notable historical figure bearing the Shirakawa name was Shirakawa Yoshitsugu, a skilled warrior and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period (1467-1615). He was a loyal retainer to the powerful Takeda clan and played a significant role in several battles and conflicts of that era.

In the realm of arts and culture, Shirakawa Yofusa (1605-1682) was a renowned Japanese painter and calligrapher during the Edo period. His works are highly regarded for their innovative techniques and capture of natural landscapes.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), Shirakawa Katsuko (1844-1920) was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education in Japan. She established one of the first private schools for girls in Tokyo and played a crucial role in promoting educational opportunities for women.

Lastly, Shirakawa Masaaki (born 1952) is a contemporary Japanese physicist and Nobel Laureate. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014 for his groundbreaking work on the theory of superconductivity in layered materials, contributing significantly to our understanding of this phenomenon.

While the Shirakawa surname may have originated from a specific geographical location, it has since spread across Japan and become associated with individuals from various walks of life, from warriors and artists to educators and scientists, leaving an indelible mark on the country's rich history and cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shirakawa

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

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

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

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