Explore the Family Name Kanai
The meaning of Kanai
Japanese: written 金井 ‘gold well’. It is found mostly in the Tokyo area and the Ryūkyū Islands. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Akira, Hidehiro, Hideki, Hideo, Hiromitsu, Hiroto, Junichi, Kazunori, Keiichi, Kenichi, Kimio, Kiyoshi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kanai in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data on surname popularity, the surname Kanai held the rank of 54,766 in 2000 and slipped marginally in popularity to 56,836 by 2010—a change of -3.78%. Despite this slight dip in popularity, the actual count of individuals with the Kanai surname increased slightly from 352 in 2000 to 359 in 2010, a rise of 1.99%. However, when calculated as a proportion per 100,000 people, the presence of this surname decreased by 7.69%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #54,766 | #56,836 | -3.78% |
| Count | 352 | 359 | 1.99% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.12 | -7.69% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kanai
In terms of ethnic identity associated with the surname Kanai, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that there was a noticeable shift between 2000 and 2010. The proportion of individuals with Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity decreased from 64.77% to 61.56%, a change of -4.96%. Those identifying with two or more races saw an increase from 5.97% to 7.24%, a significant growth of 21.27%. The percentage of White individuals remained relatively stable, seeing a slight ascent from 27.27% to 27.58%. The Hispanic representation within the Kanai surname holders experienced emergence from 0 to 1.39%. Finally, the percentage of Black individuals rose significantly from 1.42% to 2.23%, a considerable 57.04% increase. There were no recorded American Indian and Alaskan Natives within this surname category for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 64.77% | 61.56% | -4.96% |
| White | 27.27% | 27.58% | 1.14% |
| Two or More Races | 5.97% | 7.24% | 21.27% |
| Black | 1.42% | 2.23% | 57.04% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.39% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |