Yokomizo last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Yokomizo

A Japanese surname derived from a place name meaning "side of the valley."

Yokomizo, 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 Yokomizo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yokomizo in America

Yokomizo is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yokomizo surname appeared 148 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 Yokomizo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yokomizo 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 117480 103706 12.45%
Count 148 160 -7.79%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.06 -18.18%

The history of the last name Yokomizo

The surname Yokomizo originates from Japan, a country renowned for its rich cultural history and complex system of family names. Japanese surnames often consist of two kanji characters, each carrying its own meaning. The surname Yokomizo is typically written with the characters "横" (yoko) meaning "side" or "horizontal," and "溝" (mizo) meaning "ditch" or "gutter." The name can be interpreted as "side of the ditch," suggesting a geographical origin related to land near a ditch or water channel.

Yokomizo is believed to have originated in the Edo period, a time in Japanese history from the early 17th to the mid-19th century. During this period, many families adopted surnames based on their geographical locations, occupations, or distinctive physical features of their surroundings. Specifically, the name Yokomizo is thought to have emerged in rural areas where water management was crucial for rice farming. Villages that had intricate systems of irrigation would have numerous ditches and channels, making the origin of such a name quite practical.

Historical records referencing the surname Yokomizo are sparse, but some documents from the late Edo period mention families bearing this name in the Kansai region, particularly in the areas surrounding Kyoto and Osaka. These references highlight the agricultural connection of the name, as these areas were well-known for their farming communities. Old village registries and tax documents occasionally list the surname Yokomizo, identifying landowners and farmers.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Yokomizo is Yokomizo Sadao, a minor samurai of the late Edo period known for his service to a regional daimyō in the mid-1800s. Records from 1852 mention Sadao’s involvement in local administrative tasks related to land and water management.

In modern history, Yokomizo Seishi (1902-1981) stands out as a prominent figure bearing this surname. Seishi was a celebrated mystery novelist whose works were major influences on the genre of detective fiction in Japan. His most famous creation, detective Kosuke Kindaichi, captivated readers and left a significant impact on Japanese literature.

Another notable individual is Yokomizo Hideko, born in 1926, who was a revered actress in Japanese cinema during the mid-20th century. Her contributions to film and theater earned her numerous accolades, reflecting the cultural significance of the Yokomizo name.

Yokomizo Masaki, born in 1900 and deceased in 1965, was a botanist known for his extensive research on Japanese flora. His work in the field of botany included the documentation and classification of various plant species indigenous to Japan.

The surname Yokomizo also appears in historical art circles, with Yokomizo Taikan (1886-1967) being a notable painter whose works are celebrated for their traditional Japanese style imbued with influences from western artistic techniques. His paintings have been exhibited in various prestigious galleries and remain highly regarded in the art community.

Yokomizo Matsuji, another historical figure, was a scholar and educator born in 1867 who contributed significantly to the field of Japanese literature and education. His efforts in promoting literacy and proper education during the Meiji era helped shape the educational landscape of modern Japan.

The surname Yokomizo, with its roots tied deeply to the geographical and agricultural heritage of Japan, reflects the intertwining relationship between people and their environment. Though not ubiquitous, it is a name that carries a profound connection to Japan’s historical narrative and cultural legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yokomizo

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

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 Yokomizo was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 9.46% 14
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 77.03% 114
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 8.11% 12
Hispanic Origin 5.41% 8

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 Yokomizo has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 9.46% 8.13% 15.12%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 77.03% 81.25% -5.33%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 8.11% 7.50% 7.82%
Hispanic 5.41% 3.13% 53.40%

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

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

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"Yokomizo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/yokomizo-surname-popularity/.

"Yokomizo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/yokomizo-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Yokomizo last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/yokomizo-surname-popularity/.

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