Explore the Family Name Kodama
The meaning of Kodama
Japanese: written phonetically 児玉 ‘child’s ball’ or 小玉 ‘small ball’. The second element can also mean a gem or anything spherical, but the name possibly means ‘echo’. It is a habitational name of an important family from Kodama-gun, in a part of Musashi (now in Saitama prefecture). Another family, of Taira descent, is from Kodama-mura in Shinano (now Nagano prefecture). Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Terue, Hiroshi, Takashi, Hiroki, Masako, Nobuko, Reiko, Seiji, Akihiko, Azusa, Chiyoko, Etsuko.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kodama in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Kodama has seen a slight uptick in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 25,969th most popular surname, increasing to 25,889th place in 2010. The total count of individuals with this surname grew from 888 to 950 during this decade, marking an increase of approximately 7 percent. However, when adjusted for population growth, the proportion of individuals with the surname per 100,000 people decreased slightly by 3.03 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,969 | #25,889 | 0.31% |
| Count | 888 | 950 | 6.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.32 | -3.03% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kodama
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census provides intriguing data for the surname Kodama. In 2000, a significant majority, 82.43 percent, of individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander. By 2010, this percentage had fallen to 76.42, marking a decrease of around 7 percent. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals identifying as having two or more races increased dramatically from 6.42 percent to 10.11 percent. There was also a notable rise in those identifying as Hispanic, with figures rising from 3.27 percent to 4.53 percent. Those identifying as White also increased from 6.42 percent to 7.79 percent. The proportions of individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant at zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 82.43% | 76.42% | -7.29% |
| Two or More Races | 6.42% | 10.11% | 57.48% |
| White | 6.42% | 7.79% | 21.34% |
| Hispanic | 3.27% | 4.53% | 38.53% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |