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

Teraoka, 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 Teraoka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Teraoka in America

Teraoka is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Teraoka surname appeared 238 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 Teraoka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Teraoka 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 Teraoka

The surname TERAOKA is of Japanese origin, tracing its roots back to the 14th century. The name is derived from the Japanese words "tera" meaning temple, and "oka" meaning hill or highland. It likely originated as a descriptive term for those residing near a temple situated on a hill or elevated terrain.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573) in Japan, the TERAOKA name appears in several historical records and documents, particularly those pertaining to land ownership and taxation. The earliest known reference is found in a 1427 census record from the province of Tamba, which lists a family bearing the name TERAOKA.

In the 16th century, a prominent samurai warrior named TERAOKA Hisanori (1516-1585) served under the renowned daimyo Oda Nobunaga. Hisanori's bravery and loyalty were widely recognized, and his descendants continued to carry the TERAOKA name with pride.

The name also gained prominence in the field of Buddhism during the Edo period (1603-1868). A renowned Zen Buddhist monk named TERAOKA Ryoan (1625-1696) was highly respected for his teachings and calligraphic works, which are still preserved in several temples across Japan.

Another notable figure was TERAOKA Masayuki (1777-1835), a skilled painter and artist who gained recognition for his intricate woodblock prints and ukiyo-e artworks depicting scenes from everyday life in Edo (present-day Tokyo).

During the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), a politician and diplomat named TERAOKA Masanao (1836-1919) played a crucial role in negotiating treaties with Western nations and advocating for Japan's modernization and westernization.

In more recent times, the TERAOKA name has been associated with various fields, including literature, sports, and business. For example, TERAOKA Aya (born 1984) is a celebrated author and novelist known for her poignant works exploring themes of identity and family dynamics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Teraoka

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

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

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

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