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

Usui, 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 Usui surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Usui in America

Usui is the 77264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Usui surname appeared 248 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 Usui.

We can also compare 2010 data for Usui 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 Usui

The surname USUI originated in Japan and is considered a Japanese surname. It is believed to have derived from the word 'usui' which means 'thin' or 'shallow' in Japanese. The name likely referred to a particular geographic location or feature that was characterized as thin or shallow.

USUI is a relatively common surname in Japan, particularly in the regions of Kanto and Tohoku. Historical records indicate that the name dates back to at least the 8th century AD, when it appeared in various administrative and legal documents from the Nara period (710-794 AD).

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname USUI was a samurai warrior named Usui Sadamitsu, who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD). He was a retainer of the powerful Hojo clan and played a role in several military campaigns during that era.

In the 16th century, there was a prominent Buddhist monk named Usui Dokan (1501-1555) who was instrumental in the spread of Zen Buddhism in Japan. He founded several temples and was known for his calligraphy and poetry.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the USUI name was associated with several notable figures, including Usui Sadabumi (1598-1688), a daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled over the Usui Domain in present-day Gunma Prefecture.

In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the USUI surname was Mikao Usui (1865-1926), the founder of the Reiki healing system. He was born in the village of Taniai (now part of Gifu Prefecture) and is credited with rediscovering and reviving the ancient practice of Reiki.

Another notable USUI was Usui Sumitomo (1913-1995), a Japanese businessman who served as the president of the Sumitomo Group, one of Japan's largest conglomerates. He played a significant role in the company's expansion and globalization efforts during the post-World War II era.

While the USUI surname has its roots in Japan, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly among those of Japanese descent or those who have studied or practiced Reiki. However, the historical references and notable figures mentioned above primarily pertain to the Japanese origins of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Usui

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

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

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

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