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

Yanase, 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 Yanase surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanase in America

Yanase is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanase surname appeared 114 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 Yanase.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanase 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 Yanase

The surname Yanase originates from Japan. It is primarily associated with the eastern regions of Japan, including the areas surrounding present-day Tokyo and the Kanagawa Prefecture. The name itself is likely derived from the combination of two Japanese words: "yana," meaning "willow," and "se," meaning "stream" or "rapids." The literal translation of Yanase could be "willow stream" or "willow rapids," which is emblematic of the Japanese tradition of naming places and people after natural features.

Historical references to the surname Yanase are relatively sparse due to the nature of Japanese records, which were often destroyed or lost in the turmoil of various periods, including the Sengoku (Warring States) era. However, the name does appear in some feudal records and local histories, indicating families who were engaged in agriculture or lived near willow trees by streams.

One early recorded instance of the surname Yanase can be found in a 16th-century land registry document from the Kanto region during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This document lists a Yanase family as landowners, suggesting the surname had some prominence even in those early times. These early Yanases were likely prominent farmers or local leaders.

Yanase Notsugu, born in 1542, was a notable figure in the late Muromachi period. He served as a samurai under a local daimyo and was known for his contributions to agricultural innovations in his domain. His efforts in irrigation helped enhance the productivity of the rice fields, integrating his family name with the local geology.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), the surname Yanase continued to be associated with rural communities. Yanase Shigenobu, born in 1634, was a renowned poet and calligrapher. He is known for his haiku collections that often referenced the serene landscapes around his home, frequently featuring willow trees and flowing streams, likely an allusion to his surname.

Yanase Kozo, born in 1824, was a merchant and one of the influential economic figures during the later years of the Edo period. He operated a successful business that dealt with silk, a staple of Japanese commerce at the time. His business acumen contributed significantly to the local economy, making the Yanase name synonymous with prosperity in his region.

In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Yanase Yutaka, born in 1861, emerged as an inventor and industrialist. He was instrumental in developing early machinery used in textile manufacturing. His inventions revolutionized the industry, paving the way for Japan's modernization efforts. The association of the Yanase surname with technological advancement and innovation became established during this time.

Yanase Takashi, born in 1929 and passed away in 2013, was a contemporary figure who gained national recognition as a writer and illustrator, best known for creating the beloved Japanese children's character Anpanman. His works have had a lasting cultural impact in Japan and around the world.

The surname Yanase has traversed various historical epochs in Japan, evolving from its roots in nature-related imagery to becoming associated with different facets of Japanese life, including agriculture, poetry, commerce, industry, and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanase

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!