Taniguchi last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Taniguchi

A surname of Japanese origin meaning "valley town" or "valley village".

Taniguchi, 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 Taniguchi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Taniguchi in America

Taniguchi is the 20565th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Taniguchi surname appeared 1,289 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 Taniguchi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Taniguchi 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 20565 19118 7.29%
Count 1,289 1,316 -2.07%
Proportion per 100k 0.44 0.49 -10.75%

The history of the last name Taniguchi

The surname Taniguchi has its origins in Japan, with records tracing it back to the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese place name "Taniguchi," which translates to "valley entrance" or "valley mouth." This suggests that the surname may have first been adopted by individuals residing in or near a location with such a geographical feature.

The earliest known mention of the Taniguchi surname can be found in historical records from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) in Japan. During this time, the name appears in various regional documents, indicating its use among noble and samurai families in different parts of the country.

One notable historical figure bearing the Taniguchi name was Taniguchi Keiichi (1590-1653), a renowned ceramist and potter from the early Edo period. His works, highly prized for their craftsmanship and artistry, can be found in museums and private collections worldwide.

Another distinguished bearer of the Taniguchi surname was Taniguchi Toru (1772-1835), a prominent scholar and educator during the late Edo period. He was known for his contributions to the study of classical Japanese literature and the promotion of educational reforms.

In the 19th century, Taniguchi Masaru (1835-1909) was a respected politician and diplomat who served as the Japanese ambassador to several countries, including the United States and Russia. His efforts in fostering international relations and promoting Japan's interests on the global stage were widely recognized.

During the Meiji era (1868-1912), Taniguchi Naoko (1860-1928) gained recognition as a pioneering female novelist and poet. Her works explored themes of social change and the evolving roles of women in Japanese society, making her a influential figure in the literary world of her time.

Another notable figure was Taniguchi Hiroshi (1905-1984), a renowned architect who played a significant role in shaping the modern architectural landscape of Japan. His designs, known for their innovative use of traditional Japanese elements and contemporary aesthetics, can be found in various cities across the country.

Throughout its history, the Taniguchi surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, scholars, politicians, and literary figures, all contributing to the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Taniguchi

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

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 Taniguchi was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 5.66% 73
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 72.23% 931
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 15.98% 206
Hispanic Origin 5.66% 73

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 Taniguchi has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 5.66% 7.29% -25.17%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 72.23% 78.95% -8.89%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 15.98% 9.80% 47.94%
Hispanic 5.66% 3.65% 43.18%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Taniguchi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 26, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/taniguchi-surname-popularity/.

"Taniguchi last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/taniguchi-surname-popularity/. Accessed 26 July, 2024

Taniguchi last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/taniguchi-surname-popularity/.

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