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

Wakabayashi, 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 Wakabayashi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wakabayashi in America

Wakabayashi is the 55841st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wakabayashi surname appeared 367 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 Wakabayashi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wakabayashi 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 Wakabayashi

The surname Wakabayashi originates from Japan and its roots can be traced back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the Kanto region, which includes the modern-day prefectures of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma. The name is derived from the Japanese words "waka," meaning "young" or "new," and "bayashi," meaning "cultivator" or "farmer."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wakabayashi name can be found in the Kanrei Shokannoroku, a collection of official documents from the late 16th century. This document mentions a samurai named Wakabayashi Nobuyoshi, who served under the powerful Tokugawa clan during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).

In the 17th century, the Wakabayashi family played a significant role in the development of the Wakabayashi-juku, a prosperous post town along the Tokaido road, which connected Edo (present-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. The family owned and operated several inns and restaurants in this town, catering to travelers and merchants.

One notable figure from the Wakabayashi family was Wakabayashi Kyusaku (1776-1841), a renowned scholar and poet who served as a retainer to the Tokugawa shogunate. His works, including the anthology "Kyusaku Wakabunshū," are celebrated for their literary merit and insight into the cultural and political landscape of the time.

Another prominent individual with the Wakabayashi surname was Wakabayashi Kisshū (1826-1901), a Buddhist monk and calligrapher who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting traditional Japanese calligraphy during the Meiji period (1868-1912). His works are highly regarded and can be found in numerous museums and private collections around the world.

In the 20th century, Wakabayashi Toshio (1892-1967) was a renowned painter and printmaker who helped popularize the shin-hanga (new prints) movement in Japan. His woodblock prints, depicting traditional Japanese landscapes and scenes, are celebrated for their intricate details and vibrant colors.

Another notable figure was Wakabayashi Nobuo (1923-2003), a celebrated film director and screenwriter who was known for his critically acclaimed works, such as "The Thin Red Line" (1964) and "The Sword of Doom" (1966). His films explored themes of honor, sacrifice, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on Japanese cinema.

While the Wakabayashi surname may have evolved over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the fertile farmlands of the Kanto region, where the early bearers of this name cultivated the land and contributed to the cultural and economic fabric of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wakabayashi

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

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

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

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