Explore the Family Name Hirai
The meaning of Hirai
Japanese: written 平井 ‘placid well’. It is a habitational name from Hirai-mura in Settsu (now part of Hyōgo prefecture). Families bearing this name descend variously from the Fujiwara, Taira, Minamoto, and other clans. The name is also found in the Ryūkyū Islands. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Akira, Fumio, Eiji, Koji, Minoru, Rie, Shinji, Tatsuya, Yutaka, Akane, Arata, Ayako.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hirai in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Hirai has seen a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Hirai was ranked as the 27,235th most common surname, but by 2010, it had dropped to the 31,001st position. This represents a decline of roughly 13.83% over the decade. The total count of individuals with the Hirai surname also fell from 835 in 2000 to 749 in 2010, marking a decrease of about 10.3%. The proportion of the Hirai surname per 100,000 people also experienced a reduction from 0.31 to 0.25 during this period, a drop of 19.35%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,235 | #31,001 | -13.83% |
| Count | 835 | 749 | -10.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.31 | 0.25 | -19.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hirai
Regarding ethnic identity, the majority of individuals with the surname Hirai identified as Asian/Pacific Islander according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. However, there was a slight decrease in this group from 83.11% in 2000 to 80.64% in 2010. There was an interesting increase in people identifying as belonging to two or more races, jumping from 6.71% in 2000 to 9.48% in 2010, a rise of 41.28%. While the percentage of those identifying as White decreased slightly from 8.14% to 7.08%, the percentage of those identifying as Hispanic almost doubled, rising from 1.44% to 2.80%. No individuals with the surname Hirai identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 83.11% | 80.64% | -2.97% |
| Two or More Races | 6.71% | 9.48% | 41.28% |
| White | 8.14% | 7.08% | -13.02% |
| Hispanic | 1.44% | 2.8% | 94.44% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |