Explore the Family Name Nitta
The meaning of Nitta
Japanese: written 新田 ‘new rice paddy’. It is mainly found in western Japan. Alternative readings of the surname are Arata (mainly Ryūkyū Islands) and Shinden. The most famous Nitta family took the name from their residence in Kōzuke (now Gunma prefecture). They descended from Minamoto no Yoshishige (died 1202), who was also the ancestor of the great Tokugawa family. History: Nitta Yoshisada (1301–38), a descendant of Minamoto no Yoshishige, was the major opponent of Ashikaga Takauji in the latter’s bid for the Shogunate, in which Takauji was confirmed the year of Yoshisada’s death in battle. At this time there was a schism in the imperial family, with rival emperors ruling from separate courts. Takauji supported each side in turn, as it suited him politically, but Yoshisada is to this day revered as the champion of the southern (considered ‘legitimate’) court. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Isao, Junichi, Masako, Naoki, Yoshiko, Akihiko, Atsuko, Fujio, Goro, Hiroshi, Hisako, Isamu.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nitta in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Nitta has significantly grown over a decade from 2000 to 2010. The rank of this surname increased by 19.07%, moving up from 23,428 in 2000 to 18,961 in 2010. Moreover, the count of individuals with the Nitta surname rose by a notable 42.19%, from 1,012 in 2000 to 1,439 in 2010. This growth is also reflected in the proportion per 100k figure, which increased by 28.95%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,428 | #18,961 | 19.07% |
| Count | 1,012 | 1,439 | 42.19% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.38 | 0.49 | 28.95% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nitta
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Nitta, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. Initially, in 2000, the majority of people with the Nitta surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander at 67.69%. However, by 2010, this percentage had decreased by 29.58%, making up only 47.67% of the Nitta population. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as White nearly doubled, increasing by 89.42% to reach 36.69% in 2010. There was also a slight rise in those identifying with two or more races and those identifying as Hispanic. Notably, there were no individuals who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 67.69% | 47.67% | -29.58% |
| White | 19.37% | 36.69% | 89.42% |
| Two or More Races | 9.98% | 11.19% | 12.12% |
| Hispanic | 2.57% | 3.89% | 51.36% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |