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

Yamamoto, 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 Yamamoto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yamamoto in America

Yamamoto is the 4702nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yamamoto surname appeared 7,547 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Yamamoto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yamamoto 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 Yamamoto

The surname Yamamoto is of Japanese origin, tracing its roots back to the Heian period (794-1185 AD). It is derived from the Japanese words "yama" meaning mountain and "moto" meaning origin or source. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a location near or at the base of a mountain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Yamamoto surname can be found in the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD) text, the Azuma Kagami, which chronicles the events of the time. The name appears in reference to a samurai warrior named Yamamoto Kansuke, who served under the Minamoto clan during the Gempei War (1180-1185 AD).

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573 AD), the Yamamoto name gained further prominence with the rise of the Yamamoto clan, a powerful samurai family based in the Ise Province (present-day Mie Prefecture). The clan played a significant role in the regional politics of the time, with notable figures such as Yamamoto Kansuke (1501-1561), a renowned military strategist and daimyo (feudal lord).

In the Edo period (1603-1868 AD), the Yamamoto surname continued to be associated with samurai families and daimyo clans. One notable individual from this time was Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659-1719), a samurai and author of the famous treatise "Hagakure," which outlined the code of bushido (the way of the warrior).

Moving into the modern era, the Yamamoto name has been carried by several prominent figures. Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was a Japanese Marshal Admiral and the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was responsible for planning and executing the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Another famous Yamamoto was Gongoro Yamamoto (1890-1986), a Japanese chemist who made significant contributions to the development of synthetic rubber and plastics. He was awarded the Order of Culture by the Japanese government in recognition of his scientific achievements.

Hisashi Yamamoto (1923-2006) was a renowned Japanese architect known for his innovative and minimalist designs. He designed several notable buildings, including the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok and the Tokyo International Forum.

Yamamoto is a widely recognized surname in Japan, and its historical significance can be traced back to the medieval period when it was associated with influential samurai clans and military figures. Despite its long history, the name continues to be prominent in modern Japanese society, carried by individuals from various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yamamoto

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

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

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

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