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

Yoshizaki, 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 Yoshizaki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yoshizaki in America

Yoshizaki is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yoshizaki surname appeared 118 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 Yoshizaki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yoshizaki 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 Yoshizaki

The surname Yoshizaki originates from Japan, a country with a rich history of family names that often reflect geographical features or professions. Japanese surnames typically came into wider use during the Heian period (794-1185). Initially, they were mainly used by nobles and samurai, but over time, common people also adopted them for official records and identification purposes.

The name Yoshizaki is likely derived from two elements: "Yoshi," which can mean both "good" or "righteous," and "zaki" (also written as "saki"), which means "cape" or "promontory." These elements suggest that the original bearers of the name lived near a significant geographical feature, such as a coastal area with a cape.

The oldest records of the surname Yoshizaki appear in feudal Japan, with documented instances dating back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333). During this time, surnames were often documented in family registers and feudal records. One of the earliest known instances is an entry from 1280, detailing a samurai named Yoshizaki Hiroshi who served under a regional lord.

In historical texts, the name often appears in the context of land ownership and military service. Yoshizaki Masamune, born in 1456 and died in 1523, was a known daimyo in the Sengoku period. He played a significant role in regional conflicts and was a vassal to the powerful Takeda clan.

The Yoshizaki name is also tied to a place called Yoshizaki in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture. The Yoshizaki-gobo, a well-known temple, was established there in 1471 by Rennyo, a prominent figure in the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. The name appears in various registers associated with the area, including temple records and local governance documents.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the Yoshizaki name continued to be prominent. Notably, Yoshizaki Kanako, born in 1615 and died in 1682, was a courtesan and a poet who gained fame for her literary contributions. She was said to have entertained some of the most influential figures of her time and left behind a collection of poems that provide insight into the culture and society of the era.

Another significant figure is Yoshizaki Kiyoshi, a samurai born in 1754 and died in 1831, who was noted for his military tactics and later writings on bushido, the way of the warrior. His works contributed to the understanding of samurai ethics and have been referenced in various historical texts.

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), as Japan underwent modernization, Yoshizaki Haruto, born in 1861 and died in 1924, became known for his contributions to education reform. He was an educator and a reformer who played an essential role in shaping modern Japanese educational systems.

The surname Yoshizaki thus carries a long history, closely tied to Japan's geographical, religious, and socio-political landscape. Its bearers have left an indelible mark in various fields throughout Japanese history, from samurai traditions and military service to literature, education, and religious practices.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yoshizaki

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yoshizaki, 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!