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, あべ Japanese
From Japanese 安 (a) meaning "peace" and 倍 (be) meaning "multiple times".
Abe 2 安部, あべ Japanese
From Japanese 安 (a) meaning "peace" and 部 (be) meaning "part, section".
Akiyama 秋山, あきやま Japanese
From Japanese 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Amano 天野, あまの Japanese
From Japanese 天 (ama) meaning "heaven" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Aoki 青木, あおき Japanese
From Japanese 青 (ao) meaning "green, blue" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
Aoyama 青山, あおやま Japanese
From Japanese 青 (ao) meaning "green, blue" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Arima 有馬, ありま Japanese
From Japanese 有 (ari) meaning "have, possess" and 馬 (ma) meaning "horse".
Chiba 千葉, ちば Japanese
From Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand" and 葉 (ha) meaning "leaf".
Fujimori 藤森, ふじもり Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 森 (mori) meaning "forest".
Fujimoto 藤本, ふじもと Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Fujioka 藤岡, ふじおか Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
Fujisawa 藤沢, 藤澤, ふじさわ Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 沢, 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh".
Fujita 藤田, ふじた Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Fujiwara 藤原, ふじわら Japanese
From Japanese 藤 (fuji) meaning "wisteria" and 原 (wara) meaning "field, plain".
Fukui 福井, ふくい Japanese
Denoted a person who was from Fukui prefecture in Japan.
Hamasaki 浜崎, はまさき Japanese
From Japanese 浜 (hama) meaning "beach, seashore" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Hasegawa 長谷川, はせがわ Japanese
From the Japanese place name 長谷 (Hase, not a standard reading) combined with 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Hashimoto 橋本, はしもと Japanese
From Japanese 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Hayashi 林, はやし Japanese
From Japanese 林 (hayashi) meaning "forest".
Hidaka 日高, ひだか Japanese
From Japanese 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" and 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high".
Himura 緋村, ひむら Japanese
From Japanese 緋 (hi) meaning "scarlet, dark red" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Hino 日野, 火野, ひの Japanese
From Japanese 日 (hi) meaning "sun, day" or 火 (hi) meaning "fire" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Hirano 平野, ひらの Japanese
From Japanese 平 (hira) meaning "level, even, peaceful" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Hisakawa 久川, ひさかわ Japanese
From Japanese 久 (hisa) meaning "long time ago" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Honda 本田, ほんだ Japanese
From Japanese 本 (hon) meaning "root, origin, source" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Hoshino 星野, ほしの Japanese
From Japanese 星 (hoshi) meaning "star" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Ikeda 池田, いけだ Japanese
From Japanese 池 (ike) meaning "pool, pond" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Inaba 稲葉, いなば Japanese
From Japanese 稲 (ina) meaning "rice plant" and 葉 (ha) meaning "leaf".
Inoue 井上, いのうえ 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, いしだ Japanese
From Japanese 石 (ishi) meaning "stone" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Ishikawa 石川, いしかわ Japanese
From Japanese 石 (ishi) meaning "stone" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Ito 伊藤, いとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 伊藤 (see Itō).
Itō 伊藤, いとう 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, いとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 伊藤 (see Itō).
Iwai 岩井, いわい Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "cliff, rocks" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".
Iwata 岩田, いわた Japanese
From Japanese 岩 (iwa) meaning "cliff, rocks" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Izumi 泉, いずみ Japanese
From Japanese 泉 (izumi) meaning "spring, fountain".
Kamiya 神谷, かみや Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kami) meaning "god" and 谷 (ya) meaning "valley".
Kanda 神田, かんだ Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kan) meaning "god" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Kaneko 金子, かねこ Japanese
From Japanese 金 (kane) meaning "gold, metal, money" and 子 (ko) meaning "child".
Kanzaki 神崎, かんざき Japanese
From Japanese 神 (kan) meaning "god" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Kato 加藤, かとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 加藤 (see Katō).
Katō 加藤, かとう 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, かとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 加藤 (see Katō).
Kawaguchi 川口, かわぐち Japanese
Means "mouth of the river", from Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance".
Kawakami 川上, かわかみ Japanese
From Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 上 (kami) meaning "above, top, upper".
Kawasaki 川崎, かわさき Japanese
From Japanese 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Kazama 風間, かざま Japanese
From Japanese 風 (kaza) meaning "wind, style" and 間 (ma) meaning "among, between".
Kimura 木村, きむら Japanese
From Japanese 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Kishimoto 岸本, きしもと Japanese
From Japanese 岸 (kishi) meaning "beach, shore, bank" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Kita 北, きた Japanese
From Japanese 北 (kita) meaning "north".
Kitagawa 北川, きたがわ Japanese
From Japanese 北 (kita) meaning "north" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Kobayashi 小林, こばやし Japanese
From Japanese 小 (ko) meaning "small" and 林 (hayashi) meaning "forest".
Koizumi 小泉, こいずみ 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, こにし Japanese
From Japanese 小 (ko) meaning "small" and 西 (nishi) meaning "west".
Kubo 久保, くぼ Japanese
From Japanese 久 (ku) meaning "long time ago" and 保 (ho) meaning "protect".
Kumagai 熊谷, くまがい Japanese
From Japanese 熊 (kuma) meaning "bear" and 谷 (gai) meaning "valley".
Kuroda 黒田, くろだ Japanese
From Japanese 黒 (kuro) meaning "black" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Kuroki 黒木, くろき Japanese
From Japanese 黒 (kuro) meaning "black" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
Kurosawa 黒沢, 黒澤, くろさわ 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.
Kusumoto 楠本, くすもと Japanese
From Japanese 楠 (kusu) meaning "camphor tree" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Maeda 前田, まえだ Japanese
From Japanese 前 (mae) meaning "front, forward" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Maekawa 前川, まえかわ Japanese
From Japanese 前 (mae) meaning "front, forward" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Maki 1 牧, まき Japanese
From Japanese 牧 (maki) meaning "shepherd, tend cattle".
Maki 2 真木, まき Japanese
From Japanese 真 (ma) meaning "real, genuine" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree".
Matsubara 松原, まつばら Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
Matsuda 松田, まつだ Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Matsumoto 松本, まつもと 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".
Matsumura 松村, まつむら Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Matsuoka 松岡, まつおか Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
Matsushita 松下, まつした Japanese
From Japanese 松 (matsu) meaning "pine tree, fir tree" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
Minami 南, みなみ Japanese
From Japanese 南 (minami) meaning "south".
Miura 三浦, みうら Japanese
From Japanese 三 (mi) meaning "three" and 浦 (ura) meaning "bay, inlet".
Miyagawa 宮川, みやがわ Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Miyajima 宮島, みやじま Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".
Miyake 三宅, みやけ Japanese
From Japanese 三 (mi) meaning "three" and 宅 (yake) meaning "house, home".
Miyamoto 宮本, みやもと 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, みやした Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
Miyata 宮田, みやた Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Miyazaki 宮崎, みやざき Japanese
From Japanese 宮 (miya) meaning "temple, shrine, palace" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Mizuno 水野, みずの Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Mizushima 水島, みずしま Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".
Mizutani 水谷, みずたに Japanese
From Japanese 水 (mizu) meaning "water" and 谷 (tani) meaning "valley".
Mochizuki 望月, もちづき Japanese
Means "full moon" in Japanese, a compound of 望 (mochi) meaning "wish, desire" and 月 (tsuki) meaning "moon".
Mori 森, もり Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest".
Morikawa 森川, もりかわ Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Morimoto 森本, もりもと Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Morishita 森下, もりした Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
Morita 森田, もりた Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Moriyama 森山, もりやま Japanese
From Japanese 森 (mori) meaning "forest" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Moto 本, もと Japanese
From Japanese 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin". More commonly it is the final character in Japanese surnames.
Mutō 武藤, むとう 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, なかはら Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
Nakai 中井, なかい Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".
Nakajima 中島, なかじま Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 島 (shima) meaning "island".
Nakamura 中村, なかむら Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Nakano 中野, なかの Japanese
From Japanese 中 (naka) meaning "middle" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Nakashima 中島, なかしま Japanese
Variant of Nakajima.
Nishikawa 西川, にしかわ Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Nishimura 西村, にしむら Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Nishiyama 西山, にしやま Japanese
From Japanese 西 (nishi) meaning "west" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Noguchi 野口, のぐち Japanese
From Japanese 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance".
Ogawa 小川, おがわ Japanese
From Japanese 小 (o) meaning "small" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Okabe 岡部, おかべ Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 部 (be) meaning "part, section".
Okamoto 岡本, おかもと Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Okamura 岡村, おかむら Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Okazaki 岡崎, おかざき Japanese
From Japanese 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Okumura 奥村, おくむら Japanese
From Japanese 奥 (oku) meaning "inside" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Ono 小野, おの Japanese
From Japanese 小 (o) meaning "small" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Ōshiro 大城, おおしろ Japanese
From Japanese 大 (ō) meaning "big, great" and 城 (shiro) meaning "castle".
Saito 斎藤, さいとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 斎藤 (see Saitō).
Saitō 斎藤, さいとう 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, さいとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 斎藤 (see Saitō).
Sakamoto 坂本, 阪本, さかもと Japanese
From Japanese 坂, 阪 (saka) meaning "slope" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Sanada 真田, さなだ Japanese
From Japanese 真 (sana) meaning "real, genuine" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Sano 佐野, さの Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Sasaki 佐々木, ささき Japanese
From Japanese 佐 (sa) meaning "help, aid" (repeated, indicated by the iteration mark 々) and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood".
Sato 佐藤, さとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 佐藤 (see Satō).
Satō 佐藤, さとう 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, さとう Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 佐藤 (see Satō).
Seki 関, せき Japanese
From Japanese 関 (seki) meaning "frontier pass".
Serizawa 芹沢, 芹澤, せりざわ Japanese
From Japanese 芹 (seri) meaning "celery" and 沢, 澤 (sawa) meaning "marsh".
Shibuya 渋谷, しぶや Japanese
From Japanese 渋 (shibu) meaning "astringent, rough" and 谷 (ya) meaning "valley".
Shimada 島田, しまだ Japanese
From Japanese 島 (shima) meaning "island" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Shimizu 清水, しみず Japanese
From Japanese 清 (shi) meaning "clear, pure, clean" and 水 (mizu) meaning "water".
Shinkawa 新川, しんかわ Japanese
From Japanese 新 (shin) meaning "fresh, new" and 川 (kawa) meaning "river, stream".
Shinoda 篠田, しのだ Japanese
From Japanese 篠 (shino) meaning "dwarf bamboo" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Shinohara 篠原, しのはら Japanese
From Japanese 篠 (shino) meaning "dwarf bamboo" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
Shirai 白井, しらい Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 井 (i) meaning "well, mine shaft, pit".
Shiraishi 白石, しらいし Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 石 (ishi) meaning "stone".
Shiratori 白鳥, しらとり Japanese
From Japanese 白 (shira) meaning "white" and 鳥 (tori) meaning "bird".
Sugiura 杉浦, すぎうら Japanese
From Japanese 杉 (sugi) meaning "cedar" and 浦 (ura) meaning "bay, inlet".
Sugiyama 杉山, すぎやま Japanese
From Japanese 杉 (sugi) meaning "cedar" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Suzuki 鈴木, すずき Japanese
From Japanese 鈴 (suzu) meaning "bell" and 木 (ki) meaning "tree, wood". This is the second most common surname in Japan.
Tachibana 橘, たちばな Japanese
From Japanese 橘 (tachibana) meaning "orange, tangerine".
Takahashi 高橋, たかはし Japanese
From Japanese 高 (taka) meaning "tall, high" and 橋 (hashi) meaning "bridge".
Takeda 武田, たけだ Japanese
From Japanese 武 (take) meaning "military, martial" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Takenaka 竹中, たけなか Japanese
Means "dweller amongst bamboo", from Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 中 (naka) meaning "middle".
Takeuchi 竹内, たけうち Japanese
From Japanese 竹 (take) meaning "bamboo" and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".
Tamura 田村, たむら Japanese
From Japanese 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
Tanaka 田中, たなか Japanese
Means "dweller in the rice fields", from Japanese 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy" and 中 (naka) meaning "middle".
Tani 谷, たに Japanese
From Japanese 谷 (tani) meaning "valley".
Taniguchi 谷口, たにぐち Japanese
From Japanese 谷 (tani) meaning "valley" and 口 (kuchi) meaning "mouth, entrance".
Tsukuda 佃, つくだ Japanese
From Japanese 佃 (tsukuda) meaning "cultivated rice field".
Tsunoda 角田, つのだ Japanese
From Japanese 角 (tsuno) meaning "point, corner" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Uchiyama 内山, うちやま Japanese
From Japanese 内 (uchi) meaning "inside" and 山 (yama) meaning "mountain, hill".
Ueda 上田, うえだ Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Uehara 上原, うえはら Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 原 (hara) meaning "field, plain".
Ueno 上野, うえの Japanese
From Japanese 上 (ue) meaning "above, top, upper" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Wada 和田, わだ Japanese
From Japanese 和 (wa) meaning "harmony, peace" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Watanabe 渡辺, わたなべ Japanese
From Japanese 渡 (wata) meaning "cross, ferry" and 辺 (nabe) meaning "area, place".
Yamada 山田, やまだ Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Yamaguchi 山口, やまぐち 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, やまもと Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 本 (moto) meaning "base, root, origin".
Yamasaki 山崎, やまさき Japanese
Variant of Yamazaki.
Yamashita 山下, やました Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 下 (shita) meaning "under, below".
Yamauchi 山内, やまうち Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 内 (uchi) meaning "inside".
Yamazaki 山崎, やまざき Japanese
From Japanese 山 (yama) meaning "mountain" and 崎 (saki) meaning "cape, peninsula".
Yasuda 安田, 保田, やすだ Japanese
From Japanese 安 (yasu) meaning "peace, quiet" or 保 (yasu) meaning "protect, maintain" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Yoshida 吉田, よしだ Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 田 (ta) meaning "field, rice paddy".
Yoshino 吉野, よしの Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 野 (no) meaning "field, wilderness".
Yoshioka 吉岡, よしおか Japanese
From Japanese 吉 (yoshi) meaning "good luck" and 岡 (oka) meaning "hill, ridge".
Yukimura 雪村, ゆきむら Japanese
From Japanese 雪 (yuki) meaning "snow" and 村 (mura) meaning "town, village".
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