Takei
A Japanese surname indicating the bearer's family was of high status or nobility.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 343 Americans carry the last name Takei. That puts it at #69,793 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 999,284 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Takei surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
343
1 in 999,284
Census rank
#69,793
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
281
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 281 bearers of the surname Takei in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69793rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Takei, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 82.2%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Two or More Races (7.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Takei
The surname Takei originates from Japan and can be traced back to the early 8th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "takeru," which means "to shine" or "to be bright." This name was often given to individuals who possessed qualities such as intelligence, charisma, or leadership abilities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Takei name appears in the Shoku Nihongi, an imperial chronicle of ancient Japan completed in 797 AD. The text mentions a nobleman named Takei no Masahira, who served as a provincial governor during the Nara period (710-794 AD).
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the Takei family emerged as a prominent samurai clan based in the Ise Province (present-day Mie Prefecture). They were known for their loyalty to the Minamoto shogunate and played a significant role in various military conflicts of the time.
In the Edo period (1603-1868 AD), the Takei clan held domain over the Takei Domain, a small feudal territory located in the Shinano Province (now part of Nagano Prefecture). The Takei family ruled this domain for several generations, contributing to its governance and cultural development.
Notable individuals with the Takei surname include:
1. Takei Naonobu (1608-1648), a renowned samurai and military strategist who served under the Tokugawa shogunate.
2. Takei Kiyomasa (1810-1888), a Confucian scholar and educator who played a pivotal role in modernizing Japan's education system during the Meiji Restoration.
3. Takei Tokuzo (1869-1934), a pioneering industrialist who founded the Tōyō Spinning Company, one of Japan's largest textile manufacturers.
4. Takei Tomio (1904-1989), a celebrated artist and woodblock print master known for his depictions of traditional Japanese culture and landscapes.
5. Takei George (1937-present), an American actor and author best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek television series and films.
The Takei surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Japan, such as Takei Village in Aomori Prefecture and Takei Town in Fukushima Prefecture. These place names likely originated from the presence of Takei families or clans in those regions during ancient times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Takei
Among Census respondents with the surname Takei, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 82.2%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Two or More Races (7.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Takei bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Takei surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander82.2%
- White8.2%
- Two or more races7.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Takei surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #69,793 | #69,793 | 0.0% |
| Count | 281 | 281 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Takei bearers went from 281 to 281 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #69,793 to #69,793.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Takei
FAQ
Takei surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Takei?
The surname Takei holds position #69,793 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 343 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Takei surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Takei, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 82.2%. The next largest groups are White (8.2%) and Two or More Races (7.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.