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

Wakayama, 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 Wakayama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wakayama in America

Wakayama is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wakayama surname appeared 218 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 Wakayama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wakayama 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 Wakayama

The surname Wakayama has its origins in Japan, tracing back to the late 15th century. It is derived from the name of the city of Wakayama, located in the Kansai region of Japan. The city's name itself comes from the Japanese words "waka" meaning "poetry" and "yama" meaning "mountain," suggesting a connection to the poetic traditions of the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Wakayama surname can be found in the historical records of the Wakayama Domain, a feudal domain that existed during the Edo period (1603-1868). The lords of this domain held the surname Wakayama, and it is believed that their retainers and subjects adopted the name as well.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), a notable figure named Wakayama Kenzaburou (1438-1516) is recorded as being a skilled swordsman and military strategist. He played a significant role in the battles between the Hosokawa and Yamana clans, demonstrating the prominence of the Wakayama name in that era.

In the Edo period, Wakayama Gekkou (1651-1718) was a renowned poet and scholar who contributed to the development of the Haiku form of poetry. His literary works and teachings helped to establish the Wakayama name as one associated with the arts and intellectual pursuits.

Another prominent figure was Wakayama Omotomo (1802-1868), a samurai and military leader who fought against the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Bakumatsu period. He was a key figure in the events leading up to the Meiji Restoration, showcasing the Wakayama family's involvement in significant historical events.

In more recent times, Wakayama Tomisaburo (1885-1956) was a prominent Japanese actor and film director during the early years of Japanese cinema. He is considered a pioneer of the industry and helped establish the Wakayama name in the realm of entertainment and the arts.

While the Wakayama surname has its roots in the city of Wakayama, it has since spread throughout Japan and can be found in various regions of the country. The name has also gained recognition globally, carried by individuals of Japanese descent who have made their mark in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wakayama

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

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

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

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