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

Yama, 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 Yama surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yama in America

Yama is the 72771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yama surname appeared 267 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 Yama.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yama 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 Yama

The surname Yama has its origins in Japan, where it first appeared during the Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868. The name Yama is derived from the Japanese word for mountain, written as 山 in Kanji characters. This surname is closely associated with regions that are mountainous, particularly those in the central and northern areas of Japan such as Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectures. In these regions, the name Yama likely began as a descriptor for families living near or in the mountains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Yama can be found in historical documents dating back to the late Edo period. These documents, including land registries and census records, list the name Yama among others as part of feudal domains. Notably, the name appears in the records of the Tokugawa shogunate, which maintained meticulous records of its vassals and subjects.

One such historical figure is Yama Katsuhiro, a samurai who served under the Matsudaira clan during the Edo period. He was born in 1782 and is noted for his military service during the clan conflicts of the early 19th century. Another noteworthy individual is Yama Naoko, a poet and calligrapher from the late Edo period. Born in 1821, her works are still celebrated in Japanese cultural circles today.

The surname also saw prominence in the Meiji period following Japan’s modernization in the late 19th century. Yama Akio, born in 1858, was an influential politician who played a fundamental role in the drafting of Japan's first constitution. Records from this period show the spread of the Yama surname from rural areas to urban centers as families moved in search of new opportunities.

Entering the 20th century, Yama Kenichi, born in 1903, emerged as a leading academic in the field of geology. His research on volcanic activity in the Japanese archipelago remains influential in contemporary scientific studies. Another significant figure is Yama Sachiko, an early advocate for women's rights born in 1926. Her activism helped pave the way for greater gender equality in Japan.

The surname Yama, rooted deeply in the natural landscape of Japan, carries with it a rich history and several remarkable figures who have contributed to various facets of society. Its origin as a topographical surname underscores the close relationship between the inhabitants and their environment, a theme prevalent in many Japanese surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yama

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

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

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

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