Explore the Family Name Higashi
The meaning of Higashi
Japanese: written 東 ‘east’. This is a common placename in Japan, borne as a surname by several different families. Compare Azuma. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Akira, Emiko, Masa, Toshio, Yoshio, Aki, Chieko, Chiyo, Chizuko, Eichi, Eiki, Fumiko.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Higashi in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Higashi in the United States has seen a small decline between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, it ranked as the 20,397th most common name, falling to the 22,404th spot by 2010, representing a decrease of about 9.84%. The actual count also dropped from 1,211 individuals in 2000 to 1,149 in 2010, which translates into a decrease of approximately 5.12%. The proportion of individuals with the last name Higashi per 100k people likewise reduced, moving from 0.45 in 2000 to 0.39 in 2010, marking a decline of 13.33%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,397 | #22,404 | -9.84% |
| Count | 1,211 | 1,149 | -5.12% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.45 | 0.39 | -13.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Higashi
Turning our attention to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Higashi, we see interesting shifts in the decade between 2000 and 2010 based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, roughly 81.67% of those bearing the Higashi name identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, but this figure decreased to about 76.33% by 2010. However, there was a significant increase in the proportion of individuals who identified as having two or more races, jumping from 9.17% in 2000 to 13.93% in 2010, an impressive rise of 51.91%. Similarly, the percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic increased by 49.77%, moving from 2.15% in 2000 to 3.22% in 2010. The proportion of people with the Higashi surname identifying as White saw a slight decrease, going from 6.85% in 2000 to 6.27% in 2010. The percentages for both Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnic identities remained at zero for both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 81.67% | 76.33% | -6.54% |
| Two or More Races | 9.17% | 13.93% | 51.91% |
| White | 6.85% | 6.27% | -8.47% |
| Hispanic | 2.15% | 3.22% | 49.77% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |