Explore the Family Name Kaneko
The meaning of Kaneko
Japanese: written 金子 ‘golden (or metal) child’; also phonetically 兼子, 金児, 金古, and so forth. Bearers of the name are not numerous, but there are several places of this name. It apparently derives from gold dust or iron ore dust found in streams or sand banks; 金 kane means ‘gold’ and is also the generic term for metal. The surname is mainly found in the Tokyo area and Okinawa, and one family is descended from the ancient Mononobe clan. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Minoru, Toshio, Akira, Kazuo, Masahiro, Mitsue, Fujio, Fumiyo, Hajime, Hideo, Isamu, Kenji.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kaneko in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kaneko has seen a slight decrease in terms of ranking from 2000 to 2010, moving from 22,637th to 22,963rd place, a change of -1.44 percent. Despite this drop in ranking, the number of people with the surname increased by 5.09 percent, from 1,060 to 1,114 during the same period. The proportion per 100k also dropped slightly from 0.39 to 0.38.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,637 | #22,963 | -1.44% |
| Count | 1,060 | 1,114 | 5.09% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.38 | -2.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kaneko
According to the ethnicity data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the surname Kaneko identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. From 2000 to 2010, the percentage of those identifying as such decreased by 6.15 percent, from 82.64 to 77.56. During the same decade, there was a significant increase in the percentage of those identifying as having two or more races, from 8.40 to 11.31 percent, a change of 34.64 percent. There was also a modest increase in those identifying as White, from 6.89 to 7.54 percent, and Hispanic, from 1.98 to 2.69 percent. No individuals with the surname identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 82.64% | 77.56% | -6.15% |
| Two or More Races | 8.4% | 11.31% | 34.64% |
| White | 6.89% | 7.54% | 9.43% |
| Hispanic | 1.98% | 2.69% | 35.86% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |