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

Shiraki, 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 Shiraki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shiraki in America

Shiraki is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shiraki surname appeared 320 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 Shiraki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shiraki 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 Shiraki

The surname SHIRAKI is of Japanese origin, with records of its usage dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the Tohoku region of northern Japan, particularly in the areas surrounding the present-day prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima.

One of the earliest known references to the SHIRAKI name can be found in the Azuma Kagami, a historical chronicle from the Kamakura period (1185-1333). This text mentions a samurai warrior named Shiraki Masatomo, who served under the Kamakura shogunate.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the SHIRAKI name gained prominence in the region around modern-day Sendai. Records from this era indicate that the name was frequently associated with skilled artisans and craftsmen, particularly those involved in the production of traditional Japanese pottery and ceramics.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Shiraki Nobuyuki (1543-1615) gained recognition as a master of the tea ceremony and a renowned calligrapher. His works and teachings influenced the development of these arts in Japan for generations to come.

The SHIRAKI surname may be derived from the Japanese words "shira" (白), meaning "white," and "ki" (木), meaning "tree." This potential etymology suggests that the name could have originated from a location or area known for its abundance of white trees or forests.

Another theory suggests that the name may be related to the Japanese word "shirazu" (知らず), meaning "unknown" or "unfamiliar." This could indicate that the SHIRAKI name was initially given to individuals or families who were considered outsiders or newcomers to a particular region.

Throughout the Edo period (1603-1868), the SHIRAKI name maintained a strong presence in the Tohoku region, with several notable figures emerging. One such individual was Shiraki Yoshimune (1678-1746), a renowned scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the study of classical Japanese literature.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as the modernization of Japan accelerated, several individuals with the SHIRAKI surname made their mark in various fields. Shiraki Toshio (1887-1949) was a prominent educator and advocate for educational reform, while Shiraki Masao (1910-1979) achieved recognition as a skilled architect and urban planner.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shiraki

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

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

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

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