Explore the Family Name Shima
The meaning of Shima
Japanese: written 島 ‘island’; it is also often written with characters used phonetically, for example 志摩 or 志馬. The word does not necessarily denote an island surrounded by water, but can also mean a field separated from its village and surrounded by someone else’s property (see Shimada, Nakashima, etc.). The surname is listed in the Shinsen shōjiroku. It is found mostly in the Kyōto–Ōsaka area and in the Ryūkyū Islands. Some instances in America may be the result of shortening other names beginning with Shima- or ending with -shima. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hiroshi, Osamu, Takemi, Akihiko, Akira, Chikako, Ichiro, Iwao, Jiro, Kaori, Katsunori, Koji.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Shima in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Shima saw a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 31,126 in terms of prevalence, but dropped to 34,110 by 2010, which reflected a change of -9.59%. The count of people with this surname similarly dipped from 705 in 2000 to 666 in 2010, marking a 5.53% decrease. The proportion per 100k also declined by 11.54%, moving from 0.26 in 2000 to 0.23 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,126 | #34,110 | -9.59% |
| Count | 705 | 666 | -5.53% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.23 | -11.54% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Shima
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates some notable shifts. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander with the surname Shima decreased from 50.50% in 2000 to 42.64% in 2010, a change of -15.56%. However, those identifying as White increased from 40.85% to 44.14% during the same period, representing an increase of 8.05%. The Hispanic population with this surname more than doubled, rising from 1.99% to 4.20%. Meanwhile, the number of people identifying as two or more races went up by 22.09%, and the Black population moved from 0% in 2000 to 1.05% in 2010. The American Indian and Alaskan Native population remained stable at 0%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 40.85% | 44.14% | 8.05% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 50.5% | 42.64% | -15.56% |
| Two or More Races | 6.52% | 7.96% | 22.09% |
| Hispanic | 1.99% | 4.2% | 111.06% |
| Black | 0% | 1.05% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |