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

Yamagata, 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 Yamagata surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yamagata in America

Yamagata is the 46404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yamagata surname appeared 459 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 Yamagata.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yamagata 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 Yamagata

The surname Yamagata originates from Japan, with its roots tracing back to the Heian period (794-1185). The name Yamagata is derived from two Japanese kanji characters 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 形 (gata or kata) meaning "shape" or "form." Together, the name signifies "mountain shape" or "mountain form," likely indicating a geographical connection to mountainous regions.

Yamagata is both a surname and a place name in Japan. The place name Yamagata is most notably associated with Yamagata Prefecture, located in the Tohoku region on the island of Honshu. Historical records indicate that the area has been inhabited since ancient times, and the surname likely emerged from families residing in or near this region. The earliest known references to Yamagata date back to ancient Japanese manuscripts, where the place and its inhabitants were recorded.

An early example of the surname appears in the Shoku Nihongi, a classical Japanese history text completed in 797, where individuals with the name Yamagata are mentioned in the context of regional governance and local affairs. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 8th century, aligning with the documented history of the Yamagata region.

One notable historical figure with the surname Yamagata is Yamagata Masakage (1524-1575), a prominent samurai during the Sengoku period. He served under Takeda Shingen, one of the most influential daimyos of the era. Masakage's contributions to military strategy and his prowess in battle are well-documented, including his role in the Battle of Kawanakajima.

Another significant person bearing the surname is Yamagata Aritomo (1838-1922), a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice the Prime Minister of Japan. Aritomo played a crucial role in the Meiji Restoration and the modernization of Japan's military and political systems. His legacy includes major contributions to the establishment of a constitutional government in Japan.

Yamagata Bantō (1748-1821), a scholar and merchant from Osaka, is also a distinguished figure. Known for his intellectual pursuits, Bantō made significant contributions to astronomy and Confucian philosophy, influencing Japanese thought during the Edo period.

The surname appears in historical documents such as the Buke Shohatto, a set of laws for samurai households established during the Edo period. In these documents, families with the surname Yamagata are listed among those granted lands and titles by the ruling shogunate.

Yamagata Daini (1725-1767), a Confucian scholar of the Edo period, made notable contributions to Japanese literature and education. His works in poetry and scholarly essays are still studied today, reflecting the enduring cultural influence of individuals bearing this surname.

Historically, the name Yamagata has been associated with various regions and notable figures across different periods in Japan, from the Heian era to the modern Meiji period. The surname Yamagata, through its rich history and geographical significance, encapsulates a broad spectrum of Japanese cultural and historical heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yamagata

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

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

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

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