indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from location)
Usage Japanese (Rare)
Scripts 日本(Japanese Kanji)
Other Forms FormsNippon, Hinomoto, Himoto, Yamato
Meaning & History
Means "Japan" in Japanese, though originally from 日本 (nihon), a clipping of 日本晴れ (nihombare) meaning "no clouds in the sky". It is a reference to an event in the Edo Period, of a weather forecaster who was asked for the weather and answered 日本晴れ. He predicted it correctly and was awarded the surname by a lord.