Explore the Family Name Kawai
The meaning of Kawai
Japanese: variously written, the original meaning is 河合 or 川合 ‘meeting of (two) rivers’. An ancient family by this name is listed in the Shinsen shōjiroku. The most usual renderings are found mostly in eastern Japan; families in different localities seem to have their own different ways of writing the name. In Okinawa it is written 河井 ‘river well’. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hideki, Kiyoshi, Takashi, Taro, Yumiko, Atsushi, Hideo, Hiroshi, Koji, Noriko, Satoshi, Shoji.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kawai in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kawai has seen a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 30,900 in popularity with 711 individuals bearing the name, accounting for a proportion of 0.26 per 100,000 people. A decade later, in 2010, the surname's rank improved to 30,390 and the count increased to 769, but the proportion per 100,000 remained the same at 0.26. This represents a rank change of 1.65% and a count increase of 8.16%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,900 | #30,390 | 1.65% |
| Count | 711 | 769 | 8.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kawai
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the Kawai surname identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, although this percentage decreased from 85.09% in 2000 to 71.65% in 2010. Over the same period, there was a significant increase in those identifying with two or more races, rising from 5.49% to 15.86%. There were also slight increases among those who identify as White (from 5.20% to 6.76%) and Hispanic (from 3.52% to 4.29%). The percentages for those identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained at zero in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 85.09% | 71.65% | -15.8% |
| Two or More Races | 5.49% | 15.86% | 188.89% |
| White | 5.2% | 6.76% | 30% |
| Hispanic | 3.52% | 4.29% | 21.87% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |