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

Yasukawa, 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 Yasukawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yasukawa in America

Yasukawa is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yasukawa surname appeared 134 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 Yasukawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yasukawa 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 Yasukawa

The surname Yasukawa originates from Japan and can be traced back to ancient times. Japan's system of surnames, or family names, has been in practice since the Nara period (710-794 AD) but became more widespread during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). Yasukawa is a compound name, derived from the kanji characters "Yasu" (安), which means "peaceful" or "tranquil," and "Kawa" (川), meaning "river." Together, the name can be interpreted as "peaceful river."

Yasukawa was not confined to any single region in Japan, but families with this surname were commonly found in rural areas where rivers played an essential role in agriculture and daily life. The presence of waterways was often a significant factor in the economic activities of these communities, providing fertile soil for rice paddies and other crops.

The name Yasukawa appears in various historical records, including family registries known as "koseki," which were systematically maintained from the 7th century onward. These registries often documented births, deaths, marriages, and other significant family events, helping to trace the lineage of surnames like Yasukawa.

One of the earliest known references to the name Yasukawa can be found in records from the Edo period (1603-1868), a time when Japan saw significant social and economic changes. An individual named Yasukawa Gorobei, born in 1692 and passing away in 1761, was a samurai and landowner known for his contributions to local community development. He played a pivotal role in constructing irrigation systems that benefited agriculture in his region.

Another noteworthy individual was Yasukawa Shigesaburo, born in 1833. He was a merchant who became influential during the Meiji era (1868-1912) due to his business dealings in silk and tea, commodities that were crucial to Japan's economy during the period of modernization and Westernization.

The Yasukawa family continued to produce notable individuals in subsequent generations. Yasukawa Rikichi was a poet and scholar in the Taisho era (1912-1926), known for his contributions to Japanese literature and his efforts to preserve traditional forms of poetry. His work remains studied by literary scholars to this day.

In the early 20th century, Yasukawa Toshio (1898-1965) was an engineer who made significant advancements in mechanical engineering and industrial technology. His innovations were particularly influential in the growth of Japan's manufacturing sector during the post-WWII economic boom.

Yasukawa Keiichi (1943-2008), a recent historical figure, was a cultural anthropologist whose research shed light on the intricate societal structures and traditions of rural Japanese communities. His studies have been pivotal in understanding the societal transformations in post-war Japan.

These individuals not only highlight the diverse fields in which members of the Yasukawa family have excelled but also reflect the evolving roles and contributions of this surname throughout Japanese history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yasukawa

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

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

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

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