Explore the Family Name Asato

The meaning of Asato

Japanese: variously written. The version listed in the Shinsen shōjiroku is written phonetically 朝戸 ‘morning’ and ‘door’. Another version, written 安里 ‘safe village’, is found in the Ryūkyū Islands, where it is sometimes pronounced Yasuzato. One family of this name originated in Asatsu-mura in Satsuma province (now Kagoshima prefecture), and any of the four places called Asato in the Ryūkyū Islands could also have given rise to the surname. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hideo, Masaki, Masaru, Minoru, Noboru, Shigeo, Yoshito, Akio, Eisuke, Fumie, Goro, Hajime.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Asato in the United States?

Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the Asato surname in the United States has slightly decreased between 2000 and 2010. The Asato name was ranked 22,591st in 2000 and dropped to the 24,159th position in 2010, indicative of a 6.94% decrease in its rank. During the same period, the count of individuals with this surname also dipped by 1.98%, reducing from 1,062 in 2000 to 1,041 in 2010. Accordingly, the proportion of the Asato surname per 100,000 people fell by 10.26%.

20002010Change
Rank#22,591#24,159-6.94%
Count1,0621,041-1.98%
Proportion per 100k0.390.35-10.26%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Asato

Regarding the ethnicity associated with the Asato surname, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, a majority identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, although there was a 6.85% decline in this category from 2000 to 2010 (84.56% to 78.77%). During the same period, there was a substantial increase of 68.40% in those identifying as belonging to two or more races (8.10% to 13.64%). A slight increase was noted in those identifying as White and Hispanic, 4.20% and 5.68% respectively. However, no individuals with the Asato surname identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.

20002010Change
Asian/Pacific Islander84.56%78.77%-6.85%
Two or More Races8.1%13.64%68.4%
White4.52%4.71%4.2%
Hispanic2.64%2.79%5.68%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%