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

Yoneshige, 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 Yoneshige surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Yoneshige in America

Yoneshige is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoneshige surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yoneshige.

The history of the last name Yoneshige

The surname Yoneshige originates from Japan and likely dates back several centuries. Japanese surnames often reflect geographical features, occupations, or descriptive traits. Yoneshige is no exception and is constructed from two kanji characters: 米 (yone), meaning "rice," and 重 (shige), meaning "heavy" or "abundant." This surname may have been attributed to families involved in rice cultivation or trade, a prevalent occupation in historical Japan.

The regions where Yoneshige might have originated include areas known for rice farming, such as the fertile plains of the Kansai and Kanto regions. The name Yoneshige is relatively rare, and its presence in historical records is sparse in comparison to more common surnames. The first kanji, "yone," indicative of rice, suggests that the bearers of this surname were likely situated in areas where rice paddies were abundant, thus attaching significance to their socio-economic activities.

An old manuscript, the Azuma Kagami, a Japanese historical chronicle, mentions a certain Taro Yoneshige around the late 12th century. In this period, the Kamakura shogunate governed Japan, and records of individual names are few. Despite this, the appearance of Yoneshige in this chronicle indicates that families bearing this name had some degree of prominence or relevance.

One of the earliest known instances of an individual with this surname is Taro Yoneshige, born around 1170, who was mentioned in the Azuma Kagami. Another early bearer was Jiro Yoneshige, born in 1230, who was recognized as a village head (or Nanushi) in a small community within the Yamato Province (now Nara Prefecture). These early records demonstrate the surname’s association with leadership or influential roles within rural communities.

By the Edo period (1603-1868), more documented instances of the name appear. One such individual was Yoneshige Masayuki, a samurai who served under the Tokugawa shogunate, born in 1625 and died in 1687. His family had connections to the land, managing rice production for their domain. Another notable figure was Yoneshige Haruto, born in 1765, who became a well-known merchant in the growing city of Edo (now Tokyo), indicating the family’s shift from agricultural to urban commercial endeavors.

In the Meiji Restoration period (1868-1912), reforms required all citizens to adopt surnames, further solidifying the presence of Yoneshige. Yoneshige Hitoshi, born in 1847, was a prominent local official during this time of modernization. His records indicate efforts in developing rural infrastructure, aligning with the surname's historical ties to rice farming regions.

In summary, the history of the Yoneshige surname reflects its agricultural roots and is marked by notable appearances in historical records and manuscripts from the Kamakura period to the Meiji era. The name evolved alongside Japan's socio-economic changes, transitioning from rural leadership to roles in commerce and governance. The consistent theme throughout its history is the association with rice and the land, a fundamental aspect of Japanese culture and economy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoneshige

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yoneshige 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.

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

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

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