Explore the Family Name Tamura
The meaning of Tamura
Japanese: written 田村 ‘rice paddy village’ or 太村 ‘large rice paddy’. It is especially common in the Kyōto–Ōsaka region and the northeast. History: Some bearers of the Tamura surname descend from Date Muneyoshi (17th century). His mother was a descendant of Shōgun Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758–811), who was a descendant of Sino-Korean prince Achi no Omi, who settled in Japan in the late 4th century. Some characteristic forenames: Japanese Hiroshi, Akira, Kaz, Taichi, Hideo, Toshiko, Aki, Hitoshi, Kaoru, Kazumi, Kazuyuki, Kenji.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tamura in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Tamura experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. It was ranked 14,143rd most common surname in 2000, but dropped to 14,591st by 2010, representing a decline of 3.17%. However, interestingly, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased from 1,951 in 2000 to 2,040 in 2010, indicating an increase of 4.56%. The proportion of people named Tamura per 100,000 residents also decreased from 0.72 to 0.69 during this time period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,143 | #14,591 | -3.17% |
| Count | 1,951 | 2,040 | 4.56% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.72 | 0.69 | -4.17% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tamura
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Tamura has seen considerable change over the decade, according to Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, the majority (80.98%) of individuals with this surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, however, this figure decreased to 70.83% by 2010. During the same period, there was a notable increase in the percentage of Tamuras identifying with two or more races, from 7.94% to 13.58%, and those identifying as white rose from 8.10% to 11.67%. Although relatively small in proportion, the Hispanic representation within the Tamura name also saw growth from 2.10% to 2.65%. There were no individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in the 2000 census, however by 2010, these groups represented 0.98% and 0.29% respectively of the population with the surname Tamura.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 80.98% | 70.83% | -12.53% |
| Two or More Races | 7.94% | 13.58% | 71.03% |
| White | 8.1% | 11.67% | 44.07% |
| Hispanic | 2.1% | 2.65% | 26.19% |
| Black | 0% | 0.98% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.29% | 0% |