150+ Japanese Family Names: Meanings, History & Cultural Origins

Japanese family names carry deep cultural significance, often reflecting generations of tradition, emotion, and belief. From names that express warmth and affection to those rooted in mystery or sorrow, each holds a unique story.

Whether you’re curious about Japanese family names meaning love, seeking names that represent a boy or a girl, or exploring the more mysterious side with Japanese family names with dark meanings, there’s a fascinating world behind each one.

Also Read:130+ Japanese Names That Mean Flower – Beautiful Floral Meanings

Japanese Family Names Boy

1. Otoko (男) – 男 (おとこ)
   Meaning: Literally means “man” or “boy.” Rarely used as a surname alone but may appear in compound names.
2. Danshiro (男四郎) – だんしろう
   Meaning: “Fourth boy/man.” Often historically used to denote the fourth son.
3. Otogawa (男川) – おとがわ
   Meaning: “Boy’s river.” Suggests a peaceful or flowing nature associated with a male.
4. Otobe (男部) – おとべ
   Meaning: “Boy’s division/section.” A name that may come from a military or occupational origin.
5. Ototsuki (男月) – おとつき
   Meaning: “Boy moon.” Could symbolize a youthful presence or poetic identity.
6. Takeshi (武志) – たけし
   Meaning: “Warrior boy.” Though often a first name, it can appear in family lineage with samurai heritage.
7. Otomatsu (男松) – おとまつ
   Meaning: “Boy pine tree.” Symbolizes youth and resilience.
8. Otokoyama (男山) – おとこやま
   Meaning: “Boy mountain.” Conveys strength and masculinity.
9. Otonaka (男中) – おとなか
   Meaning: “Boy center” or “inner boy.” Indicates core or central male lineage.
10. Otose (男瀬) – おとせ
    Meaning: “Boy rapids.” May be linked to strong or energetic male nature.
11. Otokuni (男国) – おとくに
    Meaning: “Boy’s land/nation.” Historically could be a name linked to rural male-led areas.
12. Otokawa (男川) – おとかわ
    Meaning: Alternate reading of Otogawa, with same meaning—“boy river.”
13. Otoda (男田) – おとだ
    Meaning: “Boy’s field.” Symbolic of hard-working or farming boy heritage.
14. Otosuna (男砂) – おとすな
    Meaning: “Boy sand.” Possibly poetic, indicating a fleeting but important presence.
15. Otome (乙女) – おとめ
    Note: Though this means “maiden,” some old family names used contrasting gender terms within the same family for poetic reasons.
16. Takesono (武園) – たけその
    Meaning: “Warrior garden.” Symbolic of a young boy trained in strength and discipline.
17. Danbara (男原) – だんばら
    Meaning: “Boy field/plain.” Suggests open land associated with boys or youth.
18. Otokita (男北) – おときた
    Meaning: “Boy north.” Could indicate a northern origin or male ancestor from the north.
19. Otomiya (男宮) – おとみや
    Meaning: “Boy shrine/palace.” Suggests noble or sacred male lineage.
20. Otokura (男蔵) – おとくら
    Meaning: “Boy storehouse.” May reflect wealth or legacy of a male line.
21. Dansei (男性) – だんせい
    Meaning: Literally means “male,” used more in modern vocabulary than surnames, but appears in rare fictional works.
22. Shinnosuke (真之助) – しんのすけ
    Meaning: “True helper boy.” Often a first name, but also found in older family lines.
23. Otomi (音美) – おとみ
    Meaning: “Beautiful sound.” While it doesn’t directly mean “boy,” it is historically male-related in some regional dialects.
24. Katsuo (勝男) – かつお
    Meaning: “Victorious boy.” Strongly masculine and found in both given and family names.
25. Otowaki (男脇) – おとわき
    Meaning: “Boy side/wing.” Symbolic of a supporting role in male legacy.

Japanese Family Names Girl

1. Onnaishi (女石) – おんないし
   Meaning: “Girl stone.” May represent strength hidden within femininity.
2. Josai (女西) – じょさい
   Meaning: “Girl west.” A poetic name possibly representing evening or feminine direction.
3. Otomegawa (乙女川) – おとめがわ
   Meaning: “Maiden river.” Suggests purity and flow, often used in poetic or rural settings.
4. Kohime (小姫) – こひめ
   Meaning: “Little princess.” Often symbolic of a noble or pampered girl.
5. Musumeda (娘田) – むすめだ
   Meaning: “Girl’s rice field.” Possibly from a family with a daughter who inherited land.
6. Onnamae (女前) – おんなまえ
   Meaning: “Girl front” or “face of a girl.” Implies beauty or presentation.
7. Josono (女園) – じょその
   Meaning: “Girl’s garden.” Symbolic of growth, care, and femininity.
8. Otomeishi (乙女石) – おとめいし
   Meaning: “Maiden stone.” Represents firm and enduring femininity.
9. Himeda (姫田) – ひめだ
   Meaning: “Princess rice field.” May suggest noble rural origin.
10. Onnagata (女形) – おんながた
    Meaning: “Female form.” Historically associated with actors playing female roles, now very rare as a surname.
11. Himemiya (姫宮) – ひめみや
    Meaning: “Princess shrine.” Reflects a divine or noble heritage.
12. Komehime (米姫) – こめひめ
    Meaning: “Rice princess.” May suggest a precious girl in a farming family.
13. Megumiko (恵美子) – めぐみこ
    Meaning: “Blessed beautiful child (girl).” Can appear in old clan names, although more common as a given name.
14. Onnakusa (女草) – おんなくさ
    Meaning: “Girl grass.” May indicate a soft or gentle nature, rare and poetic.
15. Himemura (姫村) – ひめむら
    Meaning: “Princess village.” Often a fictional or traditional rural family name.
16. Otomeyama (乙女山) – おとめやま
    Meaning: “Maiden mountain.” Symbolic of beauty and strength combined.
17. Josan (女山) – じょさん
    Meaning: “Woman mountain.” A powerful image, sometimes linked to matriarchal lineage.
18. Onnaka (女中) – おんなか
    Meaning: “Among girls” or “female-centered.” Could reflect a household led by women.
19. Koshime (小姫女) – こしめ
    Meaning: “Little girl/lady.” A noble-sounding compound name.
20. Onnamori (女森) – おんなもり
    Meaning: “Girl’s forest.” Evokes nature, mystery, and femininity.
21. Himekawa (姫川) – ひめかわ
    Meaning: “Princess river.” Delicate and poetic, common in fictional or traditional texts.
22. Onnami (女海) – おんなみ
    Meaning: “Girl sea.” Suggests depth and emotion, rarely found in real surnames.
23. Yoshihime (良姫) – よしひめ
    Meaning: “Good/noble princess.” A name of high praise, often appearing in ancient tales.
24. Mekusa (女草) – めくさ
    Meaning: Variant of “girl grass,” used in a different dialect or region.
25. Himetani (姫谷) – ひめたに
    Meaning: “Princess valley.” Peaceful and serene imagery, often romanticized.

Japanese Family Names Unisex

1. Amano (天野) – あまの
   Meaning: “Heavenly field.” Symbolizes open skies and nature, used by both male and female bearers.
2. Haruki (春木) – はるき
   Meaning: “Spring tree.” A nature-based name, gender-neutral and symbolic of renewal.
3. Fujimoto (藤本) – ふじもと
   Meaning: “Wisteria origin.” Wisteria is not gendered, making this a balanced surname.
4. Kawamura (川村) – かわむら
   Meaning: “River village.” Common across genders and regions.
5. Ishida (石田) – いしだ
   Meaning: “Stone rice field.” Neutral agricultural and elemental imagery.
6. Hayashi (林) – はやし
   Meaning: “Forest.” A short, widely-used surname that fits any gender.
7. Morita (森田) – もりた
   Meaning: “Forest rice field.” Earthy and neutral.
8. Sakai (境井) – さかい
   Meaning: “Border well.” Used for families living near borders, not gender-specific.
9. Shimizu (清水) – しみず
   Meaning: “Pure water.” Symbol of clarity, used equally for men and women.
10. Takano (高野) – たかの
    Meaning: “High field.” Elevation-themed name, universally applicable.
11. Yamashita (山下) – やました
    Meaning: “Below the mountain.” Geographic and neutral in tone.
12. Matsuda (松田) – まつだ
    Meaning: “Pine rice field.” Pine is a traditional symbol of strength and longevity, regardless of gender.
13. Inoue (井上) – いのうえ
    Meaning: “Above the well.” Neutral, historical surname.
14. Komatsu (小松) – こまつ
    Meaning: “Small pine.” Often used across genders; gentle and earthy.
15. Tachibana (橘) – たちばな
    Meaning: “Mandarin orange tree.” Traditional and non-gendered.
16. Nakata (中田) – なかた
    Meaning: “Central rice field.” Agricultural and spatial, unisex by design.
17. Mizuno (水野) – みずの
    Meaning: “Water field.” Element-based, used in many parts of Japan.
18. Kubo (久保) – くぼ
    Meaning: “Long-time valley” or “eternal hollow.” Poetic and flexible in gender association.
19. Ando (安藤) – あんどう
    Meaning: “Peaceful wisteria.” Calm and neutral in tone and meaning.
20. Aizawa (相沢) – あいざわ
    Meaning: “Together swamp” or “mutual marsh.” Uncommon but neutral.
21. Kishida (岸田) – きしだ
    Meaning: “Shore rice field.” Balanced and used by both men and women.
22. Hoshino (星野) – ほしの
    Meaning: “Field of stars.” A poetic and cosmic surname, beautifully unisex.
23. Okabe (岡部) – おかべ
    Meaning: “Hill section.” Common and free from gender distinction.
24. Tanaka (田中) – たなか
    Meaning: “Central rice field.” One of the most common surnames in Japan, used by all genders.
25. Matsunaga (松永) – まつなが
    Meaning: “Eternal pine.” Combines tradition with timelessness, gender-neutral.

Japanese Family Names Legendary

1. Kusanagi (草薙) – くさなぎ
   Meaning: “Grass-cutting.” Refers to the legendary sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, a symbol of imperial power.
2. Yamato (大和) – やまと
   Meaning: “Great harmony.” Ancient name for Japan; symbolizes legendary roots and national identity.
3. Susanoo (須佐能乎) – すさのお
   Meaning: Named after the storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto, known in many Japanese myths.
4. Oonami (大波) – おおなみ
   Meaning: “Great wave.” Evokes images of overwhelming power—often linked to sea legends.
5. Takemikazuchi (武甕槌) – たけみかづち
   Meaning: “Brave thunder god.” Name of a deity of martial power in Japanese legend.
6. Takamura (高村) – たかむら
   Meaning: “High village.” Often linked to old noble clans or heroic figures.
7. Kumagai (熊谷) – くまがい
   Meaning: “Bear valley.” Refers to Kumagai Naozane, a famous warrior in The Tale of the Heike.
8. Minamoto (源) – みなもと
   Meaning: “Source” or “origin.” Refers to the Minamoto clan, legendary warriors and founders of the Kamakura shogunate.
9. Fujiwara (藤原) – ふじわら
   Meaning: “Wisteria field.” A historically powerful clan with legendary political influence.
10. Uesugi (上杉) – うえすぎ
    Meaning: “Upper cedar.” A prominent samurai clan with a storied past.
11. Sanada (真田) – さなだ
    Meaning: “True rice field.” Linked to Sanada Yukimura, a legendary strategist in the Sengoku period.
12. Hojo (北条) – ほうじょう
    Meaning: “Northern castle.” A ruling clan from Kamakura period with legendary status.
13. Amaterasu (天照) – あまてらす
    Meaning: “Shining heaven.” Refers to the sun goddess Amaterasu, a central deity in Shinto mythology.
14. Taira (平) – たいら
    Meaning: “Flat” or “peace.” The Taira clan played a legendary role in early Japanese history.
15. Aragami (荒神) – あらがみ
    Meaning: “Wild god” or “rough deity.” Often linked to protective spirits in folklore.
16. Raiden (雷電) – らいでん
    Meaning: “Thunder and lightning.” Associated with legendary deities and martial prowess.
17. Hieda (稗田) – ひえだ
    Meaning: “Millet field.” The family of Hieda no Are, credited with passing down the Kojiki, Japan’s earliest chronicle.
18. Oogami (大神) – おおがみ
    Meaning: “Great god.” May denote divine lineage or spiritual importance.
19. Shinra (神羅) – しんら
    Meaning: “Divine network.” Symbolic of gods or celestial forces working together.
20. Izanami (伊邪那美) – いざなみ
    Meaning: Mythical goddess of creation and death in Japanese legends.
21. Tenjin (天神) – てんじん
    Meaning: “Heavenly god.” Refers to the deified scholar Sugawara no Michizane, worshipped as a god of wisdom.
22. Kagutsuchi (迦具土) – かぐつち
    Meaning: “Incendiary spirit.” The fire god from ancient Shinto myths.
23. Mikami (三神) – みかみ
    Meaning: “Three gods.” Refers to collective deities or divine trinity in myth.
24. Otokuni (乙訓) – おとくに
    Meaning: An ancient district linked to many myths and noble lineages in early Japan.
25. Takachiho (高千穂) – たかちほ
    Meaning: “High thousand peaks.” A mythical location where gods descended in Japanese lore.

Historical Japanese Family Names

1. Ashikaga (足利) – あしかが
   Meaning: “Foot benefit.”
   Ruling shogunate family during the Muromachi period.
2. Tokugawa (徳川) – とくがわ
   Meaning: “Virtue river.”
   Powerful family that ruled Japan during the Edo period (1603–1868).
3. Oda (織田) – おだ
   Meaning: “Woven rice field.”
   Home of Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan’s most famous warlords.
4. Akechi (明智) – あけち
   Meaning: “Bright wisdom.”
   Known for Akechi Mitsuhide, who betrayed Oda Nobunaga.
5. Sakanoue (坂上) – さかのうえ
   Meaning: “On the slope.”
   Prominent clan during the Heian period; Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was a legendary general.
6. Date (伊達) – だて
   Meaning: “Elegant” or “stylish.”
   Influential samurai clan during the Edo period, especially in the Tōhoku region.
7. Chōsokabe (長宗我部) – ちょうそかべ
   Meaning: “Long clan family.”
   Powerful clan in Shikoku during the Sengoku era.
8. Imagawa (今川) – いまがわ
   Meaning: “Now river.”
   Daimyō family active in the late Muromachi period.
9. Mōri (毛利) – もうり
   Meaning: “Thick forest.”
   Significant clan in western Japan during the Sengoku period.
10. Ryūzōji (龍造寺) – りゅうぞうじ
    Meaning: “Dragon creation temple.”
    Historical daimyō family in Hizen Province (Kyūshū).
11. Hōjō (宝城) – ほうじょう
    Meaning: “Treasure castle.”
    Different from earlier Hōjō; this one ruled the Odawara region in the Sengoku period.
12. Satomi (里見) – さとみ
    Meaning: “Village view.”
    Feudal clan in the Bōsō Peninsula area.
13. Akamatsu (赤松) – あかまつ
    Meaning: “Red pine.”
    Military family prominent in the Muromachi era.
14. Kikkawa (吉川) – きっかわ
    Meaning: “Lucky river.”
    Branch family of the Mōri clan, influential in western Japan.
15. Hatakeyama (畠山) – はたけやま
    Meaning: “Mountain field.”
    A samurai family involved in the Ōnin War during the 15th century.
16. Toki (土岐) – とき
    Meaning: “Soil rising” or “earth wisteria.”
    Important shugo (military governors) in the Muromachi era.
17. Tsutsui (筒井) – つつい
    Meaning: “Bamboo tube well.”
    Local rulers in Yamato Province during the Sengoku period.
18. Rokkaku (六角) – ろっかく
    Meaning: “Hexagon.”
    Powerful clan in Ōmi Province; rivals of the Ashikaga.
19. Nagao (長尾) – ながお
    Meaning: “Long tail.”
    The original family name of Uesugi Kenshin before adopting the Uesugi name.
20. Itō (伊東) – いとう
    Meaning: “This wisteria.”
    Historically significant in southern Kyūshū.
21. Tachibana (立花) – たちばな
    Meaning: “Mandarin orange blossom.”
    A noble family with both court and samurai heritage.
22. Kuroda (黒田) – くろだ
    Meaning: “Black rice field.”
    Feudal lords of Fukuoka Domain under Tokugawa rule.
23. Shimazu (島津) – しまづ
    Meaning: “Island harbor.”
    Dominated southern Kyūshū; powerful in the Edo period.
24. Yamana (山名) – やまな
    Meaning: “Mountain name.”
    A shugo family that challenged the Ashikaga during the 15th century.
25. Hosokawa (細川) – ほそかわ
    Meaning: “Narrow river.”
    High-ranking samurai family influential in the Muromachi and Edo periods.

cultural Japanese family names

1. Tanabe (田辺) – たなべ
   Meaning: “Field edge.” Reflects Japan’s rice farming heritage and connection to agricultural life.
2. Shibata (柴田) – しばた
   Meaning: “Brushwood field.” Common in rural areas; symbolizes life close to nature.
3. Sakata (坂田) – さかた
   Meaning: “Slope field.” Reflects Japan’s mountainous terrain and terraced farming culture.
4. Kajiwara (梶原) – かじわら
   Meaning: “Oar plain.” Related to boating or river life, showing the importance of waterways in Japanese life.
5. Sugihara (杉原) – すぎはら
   Meaning: “Cedar plain.” Cedars are sacred in Shinto; symbolizes longevity and spirituality.
6. Nakagawa (中川) – なかがわ
   Meaning: “Central river.” Represents the centrality of rivers in Japanese settlements and transportation.
7. Kurata (倉田) – くらた
   Meaning: “Storehouse field.” Reflects agricultural abundance and old village grain storage systems.
8. Teraoka (寺岡) – てらおか
   Meaning: “Temple hill.” Shows Buddhist influence in Japanese daily life and geography.
9. Machida (町田) – まちだ
   Meaning: “Town rice field.” Represents the balance of urban and rural living in Japanese culture.
10. Iida (飯田) – いいだ
    Meaning: “Cooked rice field.” Emphasizes rice as the cultural and spiritual staple of Japan.
11. Saeki (佐伯) – さえき
    Meaning: “Assistant warden.” Comes from ancient administrative roles in Japanese society.
12. Yamauchi (山内) – やまうち
    Meaning: “Inside the mountain.” Reflects traditional mountain village life.
13. Torii (鳥居) – とりい
    Meaning: “Shrine gate.” Symbolizes entrance to sacred space; deeply tied to Shinto culture.
14. Nozawa (野沢) – のざわ
    Meaning: “Wild marsh.” Evokes rural, untamed nature and traditional wetland farming.
15. Mochizuki (望月) – もちづき
    Meaning: “Full moon.” Tied to cultural moon-viewing (tsukimi) and poetry traditions
16. Takayama (高山) – たかやま
    Meaning: “High mountain.” Mountains are sacred and central in Japanese mythology.
17. Asano (浅野) – あさの
    Meaning: “Shallow field.” Reflects irrigation practices and human harmony with the land.
18. Isogai (磯貝) – いそがい
    Meaning: “Seashore shell.” Connected to Japan’s fishing and coastal heritage.
19. Uehara (上原) – うえはら
    Meaning: “Upper plain.” Indicates noble or strategic highland living.
20. Kanemoto (金本) – かねもと
    Meaning: “Origin of gold.” Refers to blacksmith or metalworking heritage in samurai or artisan families.
21. Nishimura (西村) – にしむら
    Meaning: “West village.” Location-based surname from old community structures.
22. Morikawa (森川) – もりかわ
    Meaning: “Forest river.” Deep connection to nature, ideal for poetic or spiritual symbolism.
23. Tabata (田畑) – たばた
    Meaning: “Fields and rice paddies.” Clearly reflects agricultural identity.
24. Shirakawa (白川) – しらかわ
    Meaning: “White river.” Poetic and pure, often linked to clean waters or purity in tradition.
25. Furukawa (古川) – ふるかわ
    Meaning: “Old river.” A cultural nod to ancient waterways that shaped early Japanese settlements.

Natural Japanese Family Names

1. Aokusa (青草) – あおくさ
   Meaning: “Green grass.” Represents freshness and vitality in nature.
2. Yamaguchi (山口) – やまぐち
   Meaning: “Mountain entrance.” Refers to the opening of a mountain path or valley.
3. Mizuki (水木) – みずき
   Meaning: “Water tree.” Represents harmony between elements.
4. Kawahara (河原) – かわはら
   Meaning: “River plain.” Often from families living near wide riverbeds.
5. Ishigaki (石垣) – いしがき
   Meaning: “Stone wall.” Symbolizes natural strength and protection.
6. Namiki (並木) – なみき
   Meaning: “Row of trees.” Often refers to tree-lined paths, especially in traditional towns.
7. Yukioka (雪岡) – ゆきおか
   Meaning: “Snow hill.” Evokes winter landscapes or mountainous snow regions.
8. Hinoki (檜木) – ひのき
   Meaning: “Cypress tree.” A sacred tree in Japanese tradition, used in shrines and baths.
9. Taniyama (谷山) – たにやま
   Meaning: “Valley mountain.” Symbolizes a landscape of balance between elevation and depth.
10. Hoshikawa (星川) – ほしかわ
    Meaning: “Star river.” A poetic name, sometimes linked to the Milky Way (Tanabata folklore).
11. Kusunoki (楠木) – くすのき
    Meaning: “Camphor tree.” Known for its fragrance and longevity; symbolic in many temples.
12. Minamiyama (南山) – みなみやま
    Meaning: “South mountain.” Directional nature name, often used in rural areas.
13. Inukai (犬飼) – いぬかい
    Meaning: “Dog keeper.” While animal-based, reflects pastoral and traditional countryside life.
14. Takenaka (竹中) – たけなか
    Meaning: “Inside bamboo.” Suggests peace, elegance, and resilience.
15. Umino (海野) – うみの
    Meaning: “Sea field.” Represents the connection between land and ocean life.
16. Kazamori (風守) – かざもり
    Meaning: “Wind protector.” Symbolic of harmony with natural forces.
17. Ooyama (大山) – おおやま
    Meaning: “Great mountain.” Conveys grandeur and stability in nature.
18. Harunaga (春永) – はるなが
    Meaning: “Eternal spring.” Expresses beauty, renewal, and youthfulness.
19. Tsukigawa (月川) – つきがわ
    Meaning: “Moon river.” Poetic, evoking quiet natural beauty and night scenes.
20. Sakurazawa (桜沢) – さくらざわ
    Meaning: “Cherry blossom marsh.” Reflects one of Japan’s most iconic natural images
21. Yamaji (山路) – やまじ
    Meaning: “Mountain path.” Represents journeying through natural landscapes.
22. Matsukawa (松川) – まつかわ
    Meaning: “Pine river.” Combines enduring strength with gentle flow.
23. Kumazawa (熊沢) – くまざわ
    Meaning: “Bear swamp.” Suggests wild nature and deep forest areas.
24. Akizuki (秋月) – あきづき
    Meaning: “Autumn moon.” A poetic seasonal name often used in historical literature.
25. Hotaka (穂高) – ほたか
    Meaning: “Tall grain.” Symbol of agricultural bounty and natural elevation (also a mountain name).
    

Japanese Royal Family Names

1. Sugawara (菅原) – すがわら
   Meaning: “Reed field.” An ancient noble family; Sugawara no Michizane was later deified as the god of learning (Tenjin).
2. Kondō (近藤) – こんどう
   Meaning: “Near wisteria.” A respected name linked to retainers and noble clans of the late imperial court.
3. Kuwabara (桑原) – くわばら
   Meaning: “Mulberry field.” Name associated with noble agricultural lands in ancient Japan.
4. Iwakura (岩倉) – いわくら
   Meaning: “Rock seat (sacred place).” Linked to Shinto and the imperial regents; the Iwakura Mission modernized Japan.
5. Katsuragi (葛城) – かつらぎ
   Meaning: “Arrowroot castle/mountain.” A legendary clan from Yamato; said to be descended from gods.
6. Fuji (藤) – ふじ
   Meaning: “Wisteria.” Root of the noble Fujiwara clan; symbolizes elegance and nobility.
7. Mononobe (物部) – もののべ
   Meaning: “Thing division” (i.e., military armory clan). A powerful ancient clan opposing Buddhism’s early spread in Japan.
8. Soga (蘇我) – そが
   Meaning: “Reviving self.” One of the most powerful clans of the Asuka period; politically dominant.
9. Yamashiro (山城) – やましろ
   Meaning: “Mountain castle.” Name of an imperial province; used by court families with regional ties.
10. Asuka (飛鳥) – あすか
    Meaning: “Flying bird.” Tied to the Asuka period and aristocratic families of that era.
11. Hieda (稗田) – ひえだ
    Meaning: “Millet field.” Linked to Hieda no Are, compiler of the Kojiki—Japan’s first mythological text.
12. Yuge (弓削) – ゆげ
    Meaning: “Bow cutter.” An old religious clan with significant Buddhist ties during Nara period.
13. Ōtomo (大伴) – おおとも
    Meaning: “Great attendant.” Ancient clan known for its poetry and political influence in early Japan.
14. Kamo (賀茂) – かも
    Meaning: “Blessed grove.” A Shinto priestly family serving the famous Kamo Shrines in Kyoto.
15. Hōin (法印) – ほういん
    Meaning: “Seal of law (Buddhist title).” While not a surname in modern times, it was adopted by noble monk lineages.
16. Nakatomi (中臣) – なかとみ
    Meaning: “Central minister.” Ritualist clan that later became the Fujiwara; key players in early imperial rites.
17. Arisugawa (有栖川) – ありすがわ
    Meaning: “Antique fire river.” A princely house (shinnōke) of the imperial family.
18. Shijō (四条) – しじょう
    Meaning: “Fourth avenue.” Aristocratic family from the Heian court; part of the Fujiwara branch lines.
19. Konoe (近衛) – このえ
    Meaning: “Imperial guard.” One of the five regent houses (go-sekke) under the Fujiwara.
20. Ichijō (一条) – いちじょう
    Meaning: “First avenue.” Another of the five Fujiwara regent families, with long-standing court authority.
21. Kujō (九条) – くじょう
    Meaning: “Ninth avenue.” Also part of the Fujiwara’s noble line; deeply influential in Heian politics.
22. Takatsukasa (鷹司) – たかつかさ
    Meaning: “Hawk office.” High-ranking family from Fujiwara descent; name implies elite martial role.
23. Rokujō (六条) – ろくじょう
    Meaning: “Sixth avenue.” Court noble family; also appears in The Tale of Genji.
24. Sanjō (三条) – さんじょう
    Meaning: “Third avenue.” A Heian-period noble family and court bureaucrats.
25. Reizei (冷泉) – れいぜい
    Meaning: “Cold spring.” Known for its poetic legacy and ties to the imperial court’s cultural arts.

conculsion

Japanese family names carry deep cultural, historical, and symbolic meanings that reflect everything from nature and mythology to noble lineage and regional heritage.

Each surname is more than just a name—it often tells a story about the family’s origin, social standing, or connection to tradition.

Whether rooted in imperial history, inspired by natural elements, or passed down from ancient clans, these names offer a fascinating glimpse into Japan’s rich and diverse identity.

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