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

Sugai, 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 Sugai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sugai in America

Sugai is the 53204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sugai surname appeared 389 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 Sugai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sugai 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 Sugai

The surname SUGAI is of Japanese origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century in the region of present-day Kyushu, Japan. The name is believed to derive from the Japanese word "sugai," which translates to "along the road" or "beside the road," suggesting that the name may have originated from a location or settlement situated along a prominent thoroughfare.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), SUGAI appeared in various historical records and documents, including regional census records and land ownership registries. One notable mention is found in the "Shōgunke Monjo," a collection of documents related to the Tokugawa shogunate, where a samurai named Sugai Masanobu (1570-1637) is listed as a retainer serving under the renowned daimyo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The name SUGAI can also be traced back to the village of Sugai-mura in the former Hita Domain (present-day Oita Prefecture), where a prominent family bearing the surname resided during the Edo period. This village was likely named after its location along a major road or trade route.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the SUGAI surname was Sugai Ariyoshi (1543-1615), a skilled swordsman and martial artist who served as a retainer to the powerful Shimazu clan in Satsuma (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture). His skill and valor were renowned, and he is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time.

Another notable figure was Sugai Masataka (1611-1675), a prominent scholar and poet who served as a courtier during the early Edo period. His literary works, particularly his haiku poetry, were highly regarded and influential in the literary circles of the time.

During the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), the SUGAI family produced several notable figures, including Sugai Toshiro (1845-1913), a politician and diplomat who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan. He served as the ambassador to the United States and played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In the 20th century, Sugai Michihiko (1900-1981) was a renowned artist and printmaker whose works captured the essence of traditional Japanese culture and landscapes. His woodblock prints and paintings are highly regarded and can be found in numerous art collections worldwide.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the SUGAI surname who have left their mark on Japanese history and culture over the centuries. While the name's origins may be rooted in humble beginnings, it has since been carried by notable figures across various fields, from samurai warriors and scholars to artists and diplomats.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sugai

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

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

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

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