Japanese Surnames

Japanese names are used in Japan and in Japanese communities throughout the world. Note that depending on the Japanese characters used these names can have many other meanings besides those listed here. See also about Japanese names.
usage
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ABE (1) 安倍 Japanese
From Japanese 安 (a) meaning "peace" and 倍 (be) meaning "multiple times".
ABE (2) 安部 Japanese
From Japanese 安 (a) meaning "peace" and 部 (be) meaning "part, section".
AKIYAMA 秋山 Japanese
From Japanese 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
AMANO 天野 Japanese
From Japanese 天 (ama) meaning "heaven" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
AOKI 青木 Japanese
From Japanese 青 (ao) meaning "green, blue" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
ARIMA 有馬 Japanese
From Japanese 有 (ari) meaning "have, possess" and 馬 (ma) meaning "horse".
CHIBA 千葉 Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand" and 葉 (ha) meaning "leaf".
FUJIMORI 藤森 Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 森 (mori) meaning "forest".
FUJIMOTO 藤本 Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
FUJIOKA 藤岡 Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
FUJITA 藤田 Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
FUJIWARA 藤原 Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 原 (wara) meaning "field, plain".
FUKUI 福井 Japanese
Denoted a person who was from Fukui prefecture in Japan.
HAMASAKI 浜崎 Japanese
From Japanese 浜 (hama) meaning "beach, seashore" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
HASEGAWA 長谷川 Japanese
From the Japanese place name 長谷 (Hase, not a standard reading) combined with 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
HASHIMOTO 橋本 Japanese
From Japanese 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
HAYASHI 林 Japanese
From Japanese 林 (hayashi) meaning "forest".
HIDAKA 日高 Japanese
From Japanese 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" and 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high".
HIMURA 緋村 Japanese
From Japanese 緋 (hi) meaning "scarlet, dark red" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
HINO 日野, 火野 Japanese
From Japanese 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" or 火 (hi) meaning "fire" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
HIRANO 平野 Japanese
From Japanese 平 (hira) meaning "level, even, peaceful" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
HISAKAWA 久川 Japanese
From Japanese 久 (hisa) meaning "long time ago" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
HONDA 本田 Japanese
From Japanese 本 (hon) meaning "root, origin, source" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
HOSHINO 星野 Japanese
From Japanese 星 (hoshi) meaning "star" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
IKEDA 池田 Japanese
From Japanese 池 (ike) meaning "pool, pond" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
INABA 稲葉 Japanese
From Japanese 稲 (ina) meaning "rice plant" and 葉 (ha) meaning "leaf".
INOUE 井上 Japanese
Means "above the well", from Japanese 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit", an unwritten possessive marker の (no), and 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper".
ISHIDA 石田 Japanese
From Japanese 石 (ishi) meaning "stone" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
ISHIKAWA 石川 Japanese
From Japanese 石 (ishi) meaning "stone" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
ITO 伊藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 伊藤 (see ITŌ).
ITŌ 伊藤 Japanese
From Japanese 伊 (i) meaning "this" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria". The final character may indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan.
ITOU 伊藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 伊藤 (see ITŌ).
IWATA 岩田 Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "cliff, rocks" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
IZUMI 泉 Japanese
From Japanese 泉 (izumi) meaning "spring, fountain".
KAMIYA 神谷 Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kami) meaning "god" and 谷 (ya) meaning "valley".
KANDA 神田 Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kan) meaning "god" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
KANZAKI 神崎 Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kan) meaning "god" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
KATO 加藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 加藤 (see KATŌ).
KATŌ 加藤 Japanese
From Japanese 加 (ka) meaning "add, increase" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria". The latter character may indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan.
KATOU 加藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 加藤 (see KATŌ).
KAWAGUCHI 川口 Japanese
Means "mouth of the river", from Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance".
KAWAKAMI 川上 Japanese
From Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 上 (kami) meaning "above, top, upper".
KAWASAKI 川崎 Japanese
From Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
KAZAMA 風間 Japanese
From Japanese 風 (kaza) meaning "wind, style" and 間 (ma) meaning "among, between".
KIMURA 木村 Japanese
From Japanese 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
KISHIMOTO 岸本 Japanese
From Japanese 岸 (kishi) meaning "beach, shore, bank" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
KITA 北 Japanese
From Japanese 北 (kita) meaning "north".
KITAGAWA 北川 Japanese
From Japanese 北 (kita) meaning "north" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
KOBAYASHI 小林 Japanese
From Japanese 小 (ko) meaning "small" and 林 (hayashi) meaning "forest".
KOIZUMI 小泉 Japanese
From Japanese 小 (ko) meaning "small" and 泉 (izumi) meaning "spring, fountain". A notable bearer of this name is Junichiro Koizumi (1942-), who was Prime Minister of Japan.
KONISHI 小西 Japanese
From Japanese 小 (ko) meaning "small" and 西 (nishi) meaning "west".
KUBO 久保 Japanese
From Japanese 久 (ku) meaning "long time ago" and 保 (ho) meaning "protect".
KUMAGAI 熊谷 Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 谷 (gai) meaning "valley".
KURODA 黒田 Japanese
From Japanese 黒 (kuro) meaning "black" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
KUROKI 黒木 Japanese
From Japanese 黒 (kuro) meaning "black" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
KUROSAWA 黒沢, 黒澤 Japanese
From Japanese 黒 (kuro) meaning "black" and 沢, 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh". A notable bearer was Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), a Japanese film director.
MAEDA 前田 Japanese
From Japanese 前 (mae) meaning "front, forward" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
MAKI (1) 牧 Japanese
From Japanese 牧 (maki) meaning "shepherd, tend cattle".
MAKI (2) 真木 Japanese
From Japanese 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree".
MATSUDA 松田 Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
MATSUMOTO 松本 Japanese
From one of the many places with this name in Japan, derived from Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
MATSUOKA 松岡 Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
MATSUSHITA 松下 Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
MINAMI 南 Japanese
From Japanese 南 (minami) meaning "south".
MIURA 三浦 Japanese
From Japanese 三 (mi) meaning "three" and 浦 (ura) meaning "bay, inlet".
MIYAMOTO 宮本 Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin". A notable bearer is video game pioneer Shigeru Miyamoto (1952-).
MIYASHITA 宮下 Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
MIYAZAKI 宮崎 Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
MIZUNO 水野 Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
MIZUSHIMA 水島 Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".
MIZUTANI 水谷 Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 谷 (tani) meaning "valley".
MOCHIZUKI 望月 Japanese
Means "full moon" in Japanese, a compound of 望 (mochi) meaning "wish, desire" and 月 (tsuki) meaning "moon".
MORI 森 Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest".
MORIKAWA 森川 Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
MORIMOTO 森本 Japanese
From Japanes 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
MORIYAMA 森山 Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
MOTO 本 Japanese
From Japanese 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin". More commonly it is the final character in Japanese surnames.
MUTŌ 武藤 Japanese
From Japanese 武 (mu) meaning "military, martial" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria". The final character may indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan.
NAKAHARA 中原 Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
NAKAI 中井 Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".
NAKAJIMA 中島 Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".
NAKAMURA 中村 Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
NAKANO 中野 Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
NAKASHIMA 中島 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 中島 (see NAKAJIMA).
NISHIKAWA 西川 Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
NISHIMURA 西村 Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
NISHIYAMA 西山 Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
NOGUCHI 野口 Japanese
From Japanese 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance".
OGAWA 小川 Japanese
From Japanese 小 (o) meaning "small" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
OKABE 岡部 Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 部 (be) meaning "part, section".
OKAMOTO 岡本 Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
OKAMURA 岡村 Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
OKUMURA 奥村 Japanese
From Japanese 奥 (oku) meaning "inside" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
ONO 小野 Japanese
From Japanese 小 (o) meaning "small" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
OSHIRO 大城 Japanese
From Japanese 大 (o) meaning "big, great" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".
SAITO 斎藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 斎藤 (see SAITŌ).
SAITŌ 斎藤 Japanese
From Japanese 斎 (sai) meaning "purification, worship" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria". The latter character could indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan.
SAITOU 斎藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 斎藤 (see SAITŌ).
SAKAMOTO 坂本, 阪本 Japanese
From Japanese 坂, 阪 (saka) meaning "slope" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
SANADA 真田 Japanese
From Japanese 真 (sana) meaning "real, genuine" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
SANO 佐野 Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
SASAKI 佐々木 Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" (repeated, indicated by the iteration mark 々) and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
SATO 佐藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 佐藤 (see SATŌ).
SATŌ 佐藤 Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" and 藤 (tō) meaning "wisteria". The final character might indicate a connection to the Fujiwara clan. This is the most common surname in Japan.
SATOU 佐藤 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 佐藤 (see SATŌ).
SEKI 関 Japanese
From Japanese 関 (seki) meaning "frontier pass".
SERIZAWA 芹沢, 芹澤 Japanese
From Japanese 芹 (seri) meaning "celery" and 沢, 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh".
SHIMIZU 清水 Japanese
From Japanese 清 (shi) meaning "clear, pure, clean" and 水 (mizu) meaning "water".
SHINODA 篠田 Japanese
From Japanese 篠 (shino) meaning "dwarf bamboo" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
SHIRAI 白井 Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".
SHIRAISHI 白石 Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 石 (ishi) meaning "stone".
SHIRATORI 白鳥 Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 鳥 (tori) meaning "bird".
SUGIYAMA 杉山 Japanese
From Japanese 杉 (sugi) meaning "cedar" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
SUZUKI 鈴木 Japanese
From Japanese 鈴 (suzu) meaning "bell" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood". This is the second most common surname in Japan.
TACHIBANA 橘 Japanese
From Japanese 橘 (tachibana) meaning "orange, tangerine".
TAKAHASHI 高橋 Japanese
From Japanese 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".
TAKEDA 武田 Japanese
From Japanese 武 (take) meaning "military, martial" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
TAKENAKA 竹中 Japanese
Means "dweller amongst bamboo", from Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 中 (naka) meaning "middle".
TAKEUCHI 竹内 Japanese
From Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".
TAMURA 田村 Japanese
From Japanese 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
TANAKA 田中 Japanese
Means "dweller in the rice fields", from Japanese 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy" and 中 (naka) meaning "middle".
TSUKUDA 佃 Japanese
From Japanese 佃 (tsukuda) meaning "cultivated rice field".
TSUNODA 角田 Japanese
From Japanese 角 (tsuno) meaning "point, corner" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
UCHIYAMA 内山 Japanese
From Japanese 内 (uchi) meaning "inside" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
UEDA 上田 Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
UEHARA 上原 Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
UENO 上野 Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
WADA 和田 Japanese
From Japanese 和 (wa) meaning "harmony, peace" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
WATANABE 渡辺 Japanese
From Japanese 渡 (wata) meaning "cross, ferry" and 辺 (nabe) meaning "area, place".
YAMADA 山田 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
YAMAGUCHI 山口 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance". Olympic figure-skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi (1971-) bears this name.
YAMAMOTO 山本 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
YAMASAKI 山崎 Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 山崎 (see YAMAZAKI).
YAMASHITA 山下 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
YAMAUCHI 山内 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".
YAMAZAKI 山崎 Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
YASUDA 安田, 保田 Japanese
From Japanese 安 (yasu) meaning "peace, quiet" or 保 (yasu) meaning "protect, maintain" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
YOSHIDA 吉田 Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
YOSHINO 吉野 Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
YOSHIOKA 吉岡 Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
YUKIMURA 雪村 Japanese
From Japanese 雪 (yuki) meaning "snow" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
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