2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Uyesugi
A Japanese surname indicating a physical feature such as "planted tree" or "planted cedar".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Uyesugi. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Uyesugi surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Uyesugi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Uyesugi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (14.7%) and White (9.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Uyesugi
The surname "UYESUGI" is of Japanese origin, originating from the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE) in the regions of modern-day Yamagata and Akita prefectures. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "uye" meaning "upper" and "sugi" meaning "cedar tree," suggesting a possible connection to a geographical location or a family residence near a prominent cedar tree.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "UYESUGI" can be found in the historical records of the Kamakura Shogunate, where it was mentioned in relation to a samurai warrior family that served under the Shōgun during the 13th century. The name appears to have been associated with the Uyesugi clan, a prominent feudal family that controlled territories in the northern part of the Tohoku region.
During the Sengoku period (1467-1615 CE), the Uyesugi clan played a significant role in the power struggles and conflicts that shaped Japan's history. Uyesugi Kenshin (1530-1578), a renowned daimyo (feudal lord) and military commander, was one of the most famous members of the clan. He is celebrated for his strategic brilliance and leadership in battles against rival clans such as the Takeda and Hojo.
Another notable figure bearing the surname "UYESUGI" was Uyesugi Harunori (1598-1662), a prominent daimyo during the Edo period (1603-1868 CE). He served as the lord of the Yonezawa Domain (present-day Yamagata Prefecture) and was known for his administrative skills and promotion of cultural activities within his territory.
In the field of literature, Uyesugi Shikano (1753-1837) was a respected scholar and poet during the Edo period. He was renowned for his contributions to the development of the haiku poetry form and his influence on the literary circles of his time.
Uyesugi Masao (1902-1994) was a notable figure in the 20th century, serving as a Japanese diplomat and ambassador to several countries, including the United States and France. He played a crucial role in promoting international relations and fostering cultural exchange between Japan and other nations.
The name "UYESUGI" has a rich historical legacy, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period of Japan. It has been associated with influential families, military leaders, scholars, and diplomats throughout the centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and political landscape of Japan.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Uyesugi
Among Census respondents with the surname Uyesugi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (14.7%) and White (9.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Uyesugi bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Uyesugi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander70.7% · 82
- Two or more races14.7% · 17
- White9.5% · 11
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Uyesugi
Uyesugi appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,607 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+6 bearers (+5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,367 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 7,607 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.5%) | Up 4,367 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Uyesugi surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #145,028 | 2.9% |
| Count | 110 | 116 | 5.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Uyesugi bearers went from 110 to 116 (+5.5% change). The surname moved up 4,367 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #145,028.
FAQ
Uyesugi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Uyesugi?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Uyesugi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Uyesugi?
Uyesugi ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Uyesugi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Uyesugi.
Has Uyesugi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Uyesugi went from 110 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 6 (+5.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Uyesugi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Uyesugi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 70.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (14.7%) and White (9.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Uyesugi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 70.7% (82 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Uyesugi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (70.7%), Two or More Races (14.7%), White (9.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Uyesugi (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Uyesugi mean?
A Japanese surname indicating a physical feature such as "planted tree" or "planted cedar". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Uyesugi (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Uyesugi?
See how common the surname Uyesugi is on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.