2000
#129,619
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Yoshimi
A Japanese surname potentially referring to good fortune or beauty.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Yoshimi. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yoshimi surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Yoshimi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoshimi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (9.9%) and White (8.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yoshimi
The surname Yoshimi originates from Japan, a country with a rich history of surnames often tied to social status, geographical roots, or occupations. It is believed that the name emerged during the Heian period (794-1185), a time when Japanese society began to stabilize, and family names became more widespread among the samurai and nobility classes.
Yoshimi is derived from two kanji characters: "yoshi" (吉), meaning "good luck" or "fortune," and "mi" (美), meaning "beauty" or "excellent." When combined, the name Yoshimi can be interpreted as "good fortune and beauty" or "excellent luck."
The earliest historical references to the surname Yoshimi can be traced back to ancient Japanese records and documents. One significant manuscript that mentions it is the Kamakura period's religious and administrative texts, reflecting the administrative reforms and family histories of that time. An example can be found in the "Azuma Kagami," a chronological history compiled during the 13th century, which records the activities of influential families, including those with the Yoshimi surname.
An early recorded example of the name Yoshimi is that of Yoshimi Tsunenobu, a samurai warrior who lived during the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. Tsunenobu was born in 1181 and became known for his valiant service under the Minamoto clan, particularly during the Genpei War (1180-1185), which was a pivotal conflict in Japanese history.
Another prominent figure with the surname Yoshimi was Yoshimi Masateru, a scholar and poet from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Masateru was renowned for his contributions to classical Japanese literature and his expertise in the waka poetry tradition. He was born in 1352 and passed away in 1415, leaving behind a legacy of literary works that are still studied today.
During the Sengoku period (1467-1603), Yoshimi Takamitsu played a significant role as a daimyo (feudal lord) of the Sanuki Province. Takamitsu, born in 1520 and dying in 1574, was a strategic military leader who aligned with the powerful Oda clan. His efforts were pivotal in the unification battles that eventually led to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.
In the Edo period (1603-1868), Yoshimi Shigetada emerged as a respected tea master and cultural influencer. Born in 1645, Shigetada was instrumental in the development of the tea ceremony's aesthetics and philosophy. He passed away in 1707, but his contributions to Japanese cultural practices continue to be revered.
Yoshimi Kogoro, a noted botanist from the Meiji era (1868-1912), made significant advancements in the study of Japanese plant species. Born in 1848, he dedicated his life to the classification and conservation of Japan's unique flora until his death in 1910. His research paved the way for modern botanical studies in Japan and worldwide.
The surname Yoshimi, with its historical depth and cultural significance, offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Japanese history and heritage. From samurai warriors to cultural figures and scientists, the Yoshimi family name has been borne by individuals who have made lasting contributions to Japanese society across various periods.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yoshimi
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoshimi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (9.9%) and White (8.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Yoshimi bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Yoshimi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander80.2% · 97
- Two or more races9.9% · 12
- White8.3% · 10
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yoshimi
Yoshimi appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#136,449
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
+2 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,830 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-2 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,860 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #129,619 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #136,449 | 123 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 6,830 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 4,860 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Yoshimi surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #136,449 | #141,309 | -3.6% |
| Count | 123 | 121 | -1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yoshimi bearers went from 123 to 121 (-1.6% change). The surname moved down 4,860 positions in the national ranking, going from #136,449 to #141,309.
FAQ
Yoshimi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yoshimi?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Yoshimi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Yoshimi?
Yoshimi ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Yoshimi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Yoshimi.
Has Yoshimi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yoshimi went from 123 recorded bearers to 121. That is a decrease of 2 (-1.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #136,449 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Yoshimi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yoshimi, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (9.9%) and White (8.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Yoshimi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.2% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yoshimi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (80.2%), Two or More Races (9.9%), White (8.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Yoshimi (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Yoshimi mean?
A Japanese surname potentially referring to good fortune or beauty. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Yoshimi (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Yoshimi?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.