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

Yanai, 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 Yanai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanai in America

Yanai is the 108199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanai surname appeared 164 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 Yanai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanai 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 Yanai

The surname Yanai originates from Japan, a country with a long history of diverse names and rich cultural significance attached to them. The surname appears to have its roots in the western part of Japan, particularly concentrated in what is now the Yamaguchi Prefecture. The name Yanai is believed to derive from a combination of two kanji characters: "矢" (ya) meaning "arrow" and "内" (nai) meaning "inside" or "within." This compilation may suggest an ancient occupation associated with archery or a family that had a distinctive relation to such a profession.

Historical records indicate that the name Yanai appeared in various feudal documents from the Sengoku period (1467-1603), a time marked by social upheaval, warring states, and the consolidation of power under daimyos. One notable early example is from the records of the Mori clan, which ruled over a significant portion of what is now western Japan. These records, dated to the late 16th century, mention a samurai named Yanai Yoshitaka, who served under the influential daimyo Mori Motonari.

The surname Yanai was also associated with a village named Yanai in the same region, providing further anchorage to its geographical and cultural origins. Yanai City, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is believed to have given the surname a geographical foundation. This connection links the family name to a specific place, allowing it to earn a separate identity within the feudal structure.

Studies of Edo period (1603-1868) census rolls and family registries show the continued presence and prominence of the Yanai family. For instance, Yanai Hidetaka, an acclaimed scholar and poet born in 1724 and who passed away in 1798, is one such individual recorded in historical documents. His poetry and academic contributions left a lasting imprint on Japanese literature.

In more recent historical references, Yanai Tadashi, born in 1949, stands out as a notable figure. As the founder of Fast Retailing, the parent company of the global clothing retailer Uniqlo, Tadashi's business acumen and vision have made the Yanai name internationally recognized in the modern era. Another noteworthy individual is Yanai Hiroshi, an influential politician born in 1909, who served as a Minister of Justice during the mid-20th century and contributed to the reformation of Japan's legal system. His policies and legislative work remain significant in the historical context of post-World War II Japan.

Yanai Kiyoshi, a historian born in 1930 and deceased in 2015, made substantial contributions to the academic understanding of Japanese history, particularly during its period of modernization in the Meiji era. His extensive writings and publications offer valuable insights into the Japan of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Overall, the surname Yanai encompasses a rich history rooted in both professional and geographical elements, its bearers achieving notable recognition in various fields from the Sengoku period to modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanai

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

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

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

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