Surname Yamada - Meaning and Origin
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Yamada: What does the surname Yamada mean?
The last name Yamada is a Japanese surname meaning “mountain rice field.” It is a toponymic surname derived from different locations in Japan.
Yamada is one of the most popular last names in Japan, where it is estimated to be held by around 1.3 million people. It is also common in South Korea and in Hawaii, where there is a large population of Japanese immigrants. In other countries around the world, the surname is less common, though some individuals still carry it.
The significance of the surname dates back centuries. The name signifies the importance of agriculture and agriculture-based communities to traditional Japanese culture. Those with the family name Yamada were respected for their ability to manage and care for their local rice fields, which was a skill of great importance to their communities.
People with the Yamada surname tend to be known for their hard work and their reliability. In Japan, the name connotes reliability, honor, and resourcefulness. Japanese people with the name may also possess a strong sense of duty and responsibility to their families and communities.
The Yamada surname is a part of Japanese heritage and culture that still carries significance today. It is a reminder of the importance of farming to Japanese society and the value of hard work and reliability.
Order DNA origin analysisYamada: Where does the name Yamada come from?
The last name Yamada is most commonly found in Japan, where it is said to be one of the two most common surnames in the country. Historically, the Yamadas were a Samurai family from the 14th century, so there are many people bearing the name throughout Japan.
In recent decades, the name Yamada has spread to other countries, primarily to the United States and Canada. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey in 2016, over 15,000 people living in the United States have the last name Yamada. It is most concentrated in the states of California, Hawaii, and New Jersey but can be found in different pockets of the country. Similarly, in Canada, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario are among the places with the most Yamadas living there.
Aside from the two North American countries, Yamada is also commonly found in other countries with large Japanese populations, such as Argentina or Brazil. Depending on the region, it is written in different ways, such as Yamaga or Yamaeda. Therefore, people bearing the last name Yamada can be found in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Yamada
The surname Yamada has many variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin. Some of the most common include Yumada, Yamada, Himada, Yamdada, Yamudda, Shimada, Shimada, and Yamata.
The surname Yamada originated from the Japanese word yama meaning "mountain." In the traditional practice of Shinshii Buddhism, family names were often associated with revered locations such as mountains. The surname Yamada likely began as a descriptor of a person from a village near a mountain.
The Japanese commonly practice hereditary surnames, which means that all of the variants and spellings of Yamada are likely to have developed as the families with the surname spread throughout Japan and other countries.
One of the most common Japanese surnames, Yamada is also a common surname in South Korea, approximately 15,000 people carry this name in the country as of 2021. Some of the surnames from the same origin include Kimata in South Korea, Yamahata in Japan, and Ikuta in Okinawa.
Yamada is also spelled Xamad in the Kannada language and Yamudu in many other languages across Asia.
In some cases, the surname Yamada has evolved into a more extended version of surnames, such as in China where it can become Yan, Yama, Yamaga, and Yamahagi depending on the connotation. In India, where the notion of a family surname has not yet been adopted, the surname Yamada has evolved into multiple spellings depending on individual traditions.
Famous people with the name Yamada
- Masaki Yamada: Japanese voice actor.
- Ryota Yamada: Japanese actor and singer.
- Hitomi Yamada: Japanese voice actress and singer.
- Yuri Yamada: Japanese voice actress.
- Hideo Yamada: Japanese singer and author.
- Shigefumi Yamada: Japanese Olympic ecologist of the first order.
- Ayano Yamada: Japanese actress, voice actor, and singer.
- Utako Yamada: Japanese actress and singer.
- Shintaro Yamada: Japanese swimmer.
- Kana Yamada: Japanese professional wrestler.
- Michiko Yamada: Japanese theater actress and singer.
- Akihito Yamada: Japanese international broker.
- Yoshiko Yamada: Japanese film actress.
- Masahiro Yamada: Japanese actor and musician.
- Tomonori Yamada: Japanese football player.
- Kuniyasu Yamada: Japanese songwriter and musician.
- Yoshimasa Yamada: Japanese shogi player.
- Shota Yamada: Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher.
- Hika-Ei Yamada: Japanese musician AKA Violet British.
- Akira Yamada: Japanese Olympic boxer.