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

Takai, 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 Takai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Takai in America

Takai is the 48256th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Takai surname appeared 438 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 Takai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Takai 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 Takai

The surname Takai is of Japanese origin and can be traced back to the 8th century CE. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "takai," which means "tall" or "high." The name was likely given to individuals who were exceptionally tall or lived in elevated areas.

During the Heian period (794-1185 CE), the Takai surname appeared in several historical records, particularly those related to samurai families and noble clans. One notable mention is found in the Shoku Nihongi, an imperial chronicle from the late 8th century, where a warrior named Takai no Kiyomaro is referenced.

In the 12th century, the Takai family established a prominent lineage in the Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture). They were known for their military prowess and played a significant role in various conflicts during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Takai surname is found in the Azuma Kagami, a historical text from the 14th century. It mentions a samurai named Takai Masatsura (1292-1368), who served under the Kamakura shogunate and was renowned for his skill in archery.

During the Sengoku period (1467-1615 CE), the Takai clan rose to prominence in the Echigo region. They were influential daimyo (feudal lords) and played a crucial role in the political and military affairs of the time. One notable figure was Takai Nobuyuki (1548-1612), a skilled strategist and loyal vassal to the Uesugi clan.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the Takai surname continued to be associated with samurai families and influential individuals. Takai Yoshitsugu (1671-1730) was a renowned scholar and poet who served as a retainer to the Tokugawa shogunate.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Takai surname. These include Takai Toshio (1928-2019), a renowned Japanese jurist and former president of the International Court of Justice; Takai Masahiko (1940-2010), a celebrated actor and singer; and Takai Yuichi (born 1963), a successful businessman and CEO of several technology companies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Takai

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

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

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

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