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

Yukawa, 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 Yukawa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yukawa in America

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

The Yukawa 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 Yukawa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yukawa 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 Yukawa

The surname Yukawa originates from Japan, a country in East Asia with a long history of structured family names. The name Yukawa is derived from the combination of two kanji characters: "Yuku" (行) meaning "to go" or "to proceed" and "Kawa" (川) meaning "river." This combination suggests a meaning akin to "proceeding river" or "flowing river," indicating a possible geographical or nature-based origin for families living near a river that played an essential role in their lives.

The surname Yukawa can be traced back several centuries, particularly originating from regions within the historical provinces of Japan. Historically, family names in Japan became widespread around the 8th to 9th centuries during the implementation of the Ritsuryō system which included population registers and land surveys. Yukawa, as a surname, became more systematically recorded during the Muromachi period (1336–1573), which was marked by the growing importance of family lineages and samurai clans.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is in the Sengoku period (1467–1615), a time characterized by social upheaval and near-constant military conflict. Documents and manuscripts from this period highlight various samurai clans, with Yukawa being among them. An example is Yukawa Harunori, a samurai who served under the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga during the late 16th century. His service in battles and regional control added prestige to the name.

Yukawa Sadaji, born in 1673 and died in 1736, was a notable figure during the Edo period. He served as a scholar and vassal in the Tokugawa shogunate, contributing to the administration and academic pursuits of the time. His documented works and contributions show the academic inclination and administrative capabilities associated with the Yukawa lineage.

In the modern history of Japan, Yukawa Hideki, born in 1907 and died in 1981, stands out prominently. He was a theoretical physicist and the first Japanese Nobel laureate in Physics, awarded in 1949 for his prediction of the existence of mesons based on theoretical work on nuclear forces. His contributions to science gave the surname international recognition and respect.

Yukawa Yoshihiro, born in 1957, is a contemporary of Hideki but made his mark in the field of economics. His numerous publications and teaching roles at prestigious universities underscore the intellectual legacy carried by the surname.

Lastly, Yukawa Megumi, born in 1767 and died in 1826, was known for her artistic contributions during the Edo period, particularly in traditional Japanese painting. Her works, preserved in museums and private collections, highlight the cultural and artistic dimensions of the Yukawa family name.

Historical references and manuscripts, such as family registries and domain records, serve as evidence of the Yukawa surname's historical footprint. This illustrious name, associated with notable figures in samurai history, scholarly endeavors, scientific achievements, and artistic contributions, offers a rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yukawa

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

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

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