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

Yamaki, 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 Yamaki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yamaki in America

Yamaki is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yamaki surname appeared 179 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 Yamaki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yamaki 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 Yamaki

The surname Yamaki originates from Japan, with ancient roots tracing back to the feudal era. The name is composed of two kanji characters: "山" (yama), meaning mountain, and "木" (ki or gi), meaning tree. Together, they form a picturesque imagery of nature, often associated with regions abundant in mountainous forests.

Yamaki is believed to have emerged around the Heian period (794-1185), a time marked by significant cultural development in Japan. The name typically associated with families living in or near forested mountain terrains, could be a toponymic surname depicting their place of residence or their occupations such as forestry or woodworking.

One of the oldest references to the Yamaki surname appears in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) records, specifically within land and tax registries chronicling the inheritable estates of samurai families. During this period, aristocratic families often documented their lineage and landholdings meticulously, making it likely that the Yamaki family was of some prominence.

In historical manuscripts, such as the Azuma Kagami, a chronicle of the Kamakura shogunate, the Yamaki name can be found. For instance, Yamaki Teiji, born in 1245 and deceased around 1302, was noted for his contributions to the shogunate’s administrative affairs. His family, residing in the Sagami province, played a part in the regional governance.

Another notable figure was Yamaki Kōshirō, a master craftsman born in 1578 during the Sengoku period. His woodworking skills were renowned, and he contributed to the construction of several significant Buddhist temples, leaving a lasting legacy in areas such as Nara and Kyoto. His meticulous woodcraft is still admired and studied by artisans today.

Yamaki Tsunetaka, who lived from 1642 to 1701, served as a vassal under the Tokugawa shogunate. His family’s fealty and military service were well-documented in the Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses). Tsunetaka's adherence to these laws galvanized the Yamaki name in military and administrative circles.

In literary history, Yamaki Mitsuyo, born in 1809, was a poet and scholar who thrived during the late Edo period. His compositions of waka and haiku have been preserved in collections which underscore the rich cultural heritage of the era. Mitsuyo contributed to the intellectual and literary dialogues of his time, influencing subsequent generations of writers.

Yamaki Nobuhiro, a prominent figure in the Meiji era, born in 1865, became an influential politician and advocate for industrial modernization. His efforts in transforming agricultural communities into modern industrial hubs are well-remembered. Serving multiple terms in the diet, his policy work paved the way for economic reforms and growth in early 20th century Japan.

These historical figures highlight the enduring presence and influence of the Yamaki surname throughout various periods in Japanese history. The etymology and historical records collectively paint a picture of a name deeply rooted in Japan’s natural landscapes and socio-political evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yamaki

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

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

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

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