Explore the Family Name Taira
The meaning of Taira
Japanese: written 平 ‘peace’ or ‘level’. Together with the Fujiwara and Minamoto, this is one of the most prominent clans in Japanese history. It is listed in the Shinsen shōjiroku. The name appears to have been taken from Taira no Miyako (‘Capital of Peace’), an ancient epithet for the city of Kyōto. The Taira are also commonly called Heike 平家 or Heishi 平氏, from the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of Taira + the words for family or clan. History: The name Taira was created in 825 by the ex-Emperor Kanmu when his son Takamune (804–67) became a commoner. Later emperors bestowed the name on some of their children, so the various branches of the clan were distinguished by the names of their parent-emperors. The Taira clan was briefly paramount in Japan in the late 12th century and its fall during a war with the Minamoto is told in the great poetic epic Heike monogatari ‘Tales of the Taira’. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Isamu, Kenji, Minoru, Tsutomu, Yoshinori, Aiko, Fumiko, Haruo, Hatsu, Hiromi, Hiromitsu, Hiroshi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Taira in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Taira saw a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Taira was ranked 30,324 in popularity with 728 individuals carrying the name, equating to 0.27 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the rank had dropped to 32,750 and the count of individuals also decreased to 701, which is about 0.24 per 100,000 people. This represents an 8% decrease in rank and a 3.71% drop in count over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,324 | #32,750 | -8% |
| Count | 728 | 701 | -3.71% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.24 | -11.11% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Taira
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Taira also shifted during that same period, as shown by data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, the majority of those with this surname, 79.26%, identified as Asian/Pacific Islander. This decreased to 74.89% by 2010. There was also a notable increase in those identifying as belonging to two or more races, up from 7.69% to 10.98%. The proportion of those identifying as White decreased from 5.49% to 4.71%. Individuals identifying as Hispanic increased from 6.46% to 8.42%. Notably, no one with the surname Taira identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 79.26% | 74.89% | -5.51% |
| Two or More Races | 7.69% | 10.98% | 42.78% |
| Hispanic | 6.46% | 8.42% | 30.34% |
| White | 5.49% | 4.71% | -14.21% |
| Black | 1.1% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |