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

Waki, 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 Waki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Waki in America

Waki is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Waki surname appeared 147 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 Waki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Waki 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 Waki

The surname WAKI is of Japanese origin, with its roots traced back to the 7th century AD in the Heian period. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "waki," which means "side" or "beside." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals residing in the outskirts or peripheral areas of a village or settlement.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the WAKI name was particularly prevalent in the Kanto region of central Japan, with records indicating its presence in various historical documents and local records. One notable reference can be found in the "Keian Shoki," a historical chronicle compiled in the 13th century, where the name appears in relation to a minor samurai clan from the Musashi province (present-day Saitama Prefecture).

The earliest recorded bearer of the WAKI surname is believed to be Waki Masanori, a minor feudal lord who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in the "Taiheiki," a historical narrative that chronicles the turbulent period of the Northern and Southern Courts (1336-1392).

Another prominent figure with the WAKI surname was Waki Yoshitane (1516-1584), a highly skilled swordsman and martial artist who served under the renowned daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Sengoku period (1467-1615). Yoshitane was renowned for his expertise in the art of kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship) and played a significant role in several military campaigns.

In the realm of arts and culture, Waki Kyūzō (1823-1887) was a celebrated ukiyo-e artist from the late Edo period. He was particularly renowned for his depictions of bijin-ga (beautiful women portraits) and landscapes, with his works being highly sought after by art collectors and connoisseurs of the time.

Another notable figure is Waki Chōyō (1871-1936), a Shinto priest and scholar who dedicated his life to the preservation and promotion of traditional Japanese culture and values. He was instrumental in reviving and spreading awareness of various traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, calligraphy, and poetry.

Lastly, Waki Kenzō (1903-1985) was a prominent Japanese architect known for his innovative designs that blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern architectural principles. Some of his notable works include the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space) and the Kyoto International Conference Center.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Waki

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!