Explore the Family Name Nakao
The meaning of Nakao
Japanese: written 中尾 ‘middle tail’, the word ‘tail’ being topographic and denoting the lower slope of a mountain, not an animal’s tail. Three separate families descend from the southern Fujiwara through the Kudō family (see Kudo), the Akamatsu family, and the Taira clan. The name is also found on the island of Okinawa. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hiroshi, Koji, Mayumi, Takashi, Tamotsu, Tetsuya, Toshio, Yoko, Yoshihiro, Yoshiko, Aki, Akinori.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nakao in the United States?
The popularity of the surname Nakao, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, has seen a decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Nakao was ranked the 30,791st most popular surname, but by 2010 it had slipped to 34,916th place, marking a 13.4% decline in rank. Similarly, the count of individuals bearing this surname also fell from 714 in 2000 to 646 in 2010, representing a 9.52% decrease. The proportion of people named Nakao per 100,000 also dropped by 15.38% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,791 | #34,916 | -13.4% |
| Count | 714 | 646 | -9.52% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.22 | -15.38% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nakao
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the surname Nakao identify as Asian/Pacific Islander, although this percentage decreased slightly from 82.63% in 2000 to 78.79% in 2010. The percentages of those identifying as White or Hispanic saw modest increases, with the proportion of Whites rising from 6.3% to 7.28% and Hispanics from 3.5% to 3.87%. Furthermore, the proportion of people with the Nakao surname identifying with two or more races experienced a significant increase, jumping from 7.28% in 2000 to 9.44% in 2010. No individuals with the Nakao surname identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 82.63% | 78.79% | -4.65% |
| Two or More Races | 7.28% | 9.44% | 29.67% |
| White | 6.3% | 7.28% | 15.56% |
| Hispanic | 3.5% | 3.87% | 10.57% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |