Explore the Family Name Moriyama
The meaning of Moriyama
Japanese: usually written 森山 ‘forest mountain’ or 守山 ‘protecting mountain’. The latter version could be taken from any of the three widely scattered placenames in Owari (now part of Aichi prefecture), Iwaki (now part of Fukushima prefecture), or Etchū (now Toyama prefecture). The ‘forest mountain’ version could be taken from even more numerous placenames. Neither version is common as a surname in Japan; they are found mainly in the Ryūkyū Islands. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Takeshi, Hatsue, Hideki, Hidemi, Hiroko, Hisako, Katsu, Katsutoshi, Kazuo, Keiichiro, Masahiro, Masako.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Moriyama in the United States?
The surname Moriyama, according to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, saw a slight decrease in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 53,299th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had slipped to the 57,914th position, marking an 8.66% drop. The actual count of individuals bearing this name also declined during this decade, from 364 to 351, reflecting a 3.57% decrease. Consequently, the proportion of people with the Moriyama surname per 100,000 also fell from 0.13 to 0.12, a decrease of 7.69%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #53,299 | #57,914 | -8.66% |
| Count | 364 | 351 | -3.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.12 | -7.69% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Moriyama
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Moriyama identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. However, there has been a small decrease in this group, from 85.44% in 2000 to 82.05% in 2010. A notable increase was observed among those identifying with two or more races - a jump from 6.04% to 9.97%. The representation of Whites underwent a significant decrease, going down from 6.32% to 4.56%, while the Hispanic portion of the population saw a growth of 42.27%, rising from 2.20% to 3.13%. No changes were noted for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories as they remained at 0% in both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 85.44% | 82.05% | -3.97% |
| Two or More Races | 6.04% | 9.97% | 65.07% |
| White | 6.32% | 4.56% | -27.85% |
| Hispanic | 2.2% | 3.13% | 42.27% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |