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

Tanioka, 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 Tanioka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanioka in America

Tanioka is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanioka surname appeared 159 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 Tanioka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tanioka 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 Tanioka

The surname Tanioka is of Japanese origin, originating from the Kansai region of Japan in the medieval period, around the 16th century.

The name is derived from two Japanese words, "tani" meaning valley and "oka" meaning hill, suggesting that the name likely originated from a specific geographic location or region characterized by valleys and hills. It is believed that the name was initially used to identify individuals or families who lived in such a landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tanioka surname can be found in the historical records of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868. Several samurai warriors and scholars bearing the Tanioka name served under various daimyo (feudal lords) during this period.

In the late 18th century, a prominent Tanioka family resided in the city of Kyoto, where they were known for their expertise in traditional Japanese arts and crafts. One notable figure from this family was Tanioka Bunshō (1731-1809), a renowned calligrapher and painter who served as a court artist for the Imperial Household.

Another historical figure with the Tanioka surname was Tanioka Kōzō (1856-1935), a political activist and journalist who played a significant role in the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, advocating for democracy and civil liberties in Japan during the Meiji era.

During the 20th century, the Tanioka name gained recognition through individuals such as Tanioka Hiroshi (1928-2004), a celebrated author and playwright whose works explored themes of social injustice and the human condition.

In more recent times, Tanioka Yūji (born 1962) has become a prominent figure in the field of architecture, known for his innovative and environmentally conscious designs that incorporate traditional Japanese elements.

While the Tanioka surname has its roots in Japan, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange, with individuals bearing this name making contributions across various fields and disciplines.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanioka

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

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

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

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