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

Watanuki, 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 Watanuki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Watanuki in America

Watanuki is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Watanuki surname appeared 109 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 Watanuki.

The history of the last name Watanuki

The surname Watanuki is believed to originate from Japan, with its earliest known usage dating back to the late 16th century. It is a combination of two Japanese words: "wata" meaning "cotton" and "nuki" meaning "to remove" or "to extract." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a profession or trade related to the processing of cotton fibers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Watanuki name can be found in the Edo period (1603-1868) records of the Tokugawa shogunate. These documents mention a Watanuki family residing in the Kanto region, which encompasses present-day Tokyo and its surrounding areas. It is possible that the name was initially associated with a specific location or village where cotton cultivation or processing was a prominent activity.

During the Edo period, the Watanuki name also appeared in various local records and manuscripts, indicating that families with this surname were scattered across different regions of Japan. Some historical accounts mention a Watanuki Nobuyuki (1615-1692), a samurai warrior who served under the Maeda clan in the Kaga Domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture).

As Japan entered the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Watanuki name continued to be prevalent, particularly in rural areas where traditional textile industries thrived. One notable figure from this period was Watanuki Tatsuo (1839-1916), a prominent educator and advocate for women's education who established several schools in the Kansai region.

In the 20th century, the Watanuki surname gained recognition through individuals in various fields. Watanuki Masao (1901-1988) was a renowned artist and printmaker known for his woodblock prints depicting traditional Japanese landscapes and lifestyles. Watanuki Akihiro (1919-2008) was a respected literary critic and scholar who specialized in the works of Japanese authors like Natsume Soseki and Tanizaki Junichiro.

Another noteworthy figure was Watanuki Noboru (1923-2001), a successful businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Watanuki Group, a conglomerate with interests in various industries, including textiles, real estate, and hospitality. Watanuki Yuko (1945-2021) was a celebrated actress who appeared in numerous films and television dramas, often portraying strong and independent women characters.

While the Watanuki name may have its roots in the textile industry, it has since transcended its original association and can be found across various professions and regions of Japan. The surname continues to hold historical significance and serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Japan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Watanuki

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

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 Watanuki 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.

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

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

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