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

Tamai, 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 Tamai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tamai in America

Tamai is the 88020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tamai surname appeared 211 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 Tamai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tamai 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 Tamai

The surname "TAMAI" is believed to have originated in Japan, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period around the 12th century. It is derived from the Japanese word "tamai," which means "protector" or "guardian." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted by individuals or families who served in protective roles, such as warriors or guardians of important individuals or locations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "TAMAI" can be found in the "Azuma Kagami," a historical chronicle compiled in the late 13th century, which mentions a samurai warrior named Tamai Nobuyoshi who fought in the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans. This suggests that the name was already established among the samurai class during this turbulent period of Japanese history.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Tamai Masafusa served as a retainer to the powerful Hosokawa clan in Kyoto. His loyalty and service were recorded in various historical documents of the time, further solidifying the presence of the "TAMAI" name among the aristocratic and warrior classes.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the "TAMAI" surname gained prominence in various regions of Japan. For instance, in the Sendai domain (present-day Miyagi Prefecture), there was a notable samurai family named Tamai who served the Date clan. Historical records also mention a Tamai Munehiro, a skilled swordsmith who lived in the 17th century and whose works were highly prized by the samurai class.

Another notable figure was Tamai Naokata, a scholar and poet who lived in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of classical Japanese literature and his poetic works, which were widely appreciated during the Edo period.

In the modern era, the "TAMAI" surname has continued to be associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. One example is Tamai Mieko, a pioneering Japanese writer and feminist who lived from 1888 to 1939. Her works challenged traditional gender roles and societal norms, making her a prominent figure in the early 20th century literary landscape.

Overall, the surname "TAMAI" has a rich history rooted in Japan's medieval and early modern periods, with connections to the samurai warrior class, skilled artisans, scholars, and literary figures. Its enduring presence throughout Japanese history reflects the diverse roles and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tamai

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

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

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

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