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

Sugihara, 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 Sugihara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sugihara in America

Sugihara is the 49546th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sugihara surname appeared 424 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 Sugihara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sugihara 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 Sugihara

The surname "SUGIHARA" originates from Japan and can be traced back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE). It is a combination of the Japanese words "sugi" meaning cedar tree, and "hara" meaning field or plain, suggesting that the name may have originated from an area known for its cedar forests or plantations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SUGIHARA can be found in the Azuma Kagami, a historical record of the Kamakura shogunate compiled in the 14th century. The text mentions a samurai named SUGIHARA Tomokazu who served under the Hojo clan during the Mongol invasions of Japan in the late 13th century.

The name SUGIHARA is also associated with the Sugihara clan, a prominent samurai family that ruled over the Sugihara Domain in present-day Miyazaki Prefecture during the Edo period (1603-1868). The clan's lineage can be traced back to the 16th century, with notable members including SUGIHARA Shigeharu (1580-1635), a skilled strategist and daimyo (feudal lord).

In the late 19th century, SUGIHARA Chūnagon (1832-1909), a prominent scholar and calligrapher, gained recognition for his contributions to the preservation of Japanese literary and artistic traditions. His works and teachings influenced generations of artists and scholars.

During World War II, SUGIHARA Chiune (1900-1986), a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania, became renowned for his humanitarian efforts in issuing transit visas to thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, risking his career and personal safety in the process. His actions earned him the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" by the State of Israel.

Another notable figure is SUGIHARA Koji (1952-1998), a Japanese writer and translator known for his work in introducing Western literature to Japanese audiences. His translations of authors such as Gabriel García Márquez and Milan Kundera were widely acclaimed and contributed to a greater cultural exchange between Japan and the West.

While these are just a few examples, the surname SUGIHARA has a rich history spanning centuries, with individuals making significant contributions in various fields, from military service and governance to the arts, literature, and humanitarian efforts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sugihara

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

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

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

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