Surname Nakayama - Meaning and Origin
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Nakayama: What does the surname Nakayama mean?
The last name Nakayama is a Japanese surname, which originated during the Edo period and is found commonly throughout Japan. The characters that make up the name mean “middle mountain.” The surname is sometimes translated as “middledammed” and is believed to be derived from the phrase naka no yama, meaning "middle mountain."
The meaning of “middle mountain” is thought to have derived from the name of an area where a family lived and where the surname Nakayama was used to differentiate them from other families. Historically, middle mountains were thought to be the home of gods or important shrines.
Nakayama is also a common name among the Okinawan people, who live in the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan. The Okinawans are thought to have adopted the surname from the onset of Japanese settlement to their homeland in the 14th century.
Today, the Nakayama surname is common throughout Japan, where many are found in areas where Japan's samurai culture flourished, such as Aomori, Iwate and Osaka. In addition, many Japanese Americans have adopted the name when immigrating to the United States.
Nakayama is an important surname in Japan's cultural heritage, which adds authenticity to stories of Japan's rich history. It continues to be an important marker of identity, especially for Japanese Americans, to be able to proudly bear the Nakayama surname.
Order DNA origin analysisNakayama: Where does the name Nakayama come from?
The last name Nakayama is most common today in Japan and other parts of East Asia. In Japan, the frequency of the surname is relatively high, placing 17th among all surnames in the country. It is particularly common in the northern region of Tōhoku, and to a lesser extent in the central regions of Kantō and Kinki.
Outside of Japan, the surname is still prominent today in various countries including China, South Korea, Costa Rica, and Peru. In China, the surname is particularly concentrated in Chongqing and Zhejiang. In South Korea, the surname is widespread, with concentrations in and around the cities of Seoul and Busan. In Costa Rica and Peru, the surname is concentrated in and around the capital cities of San Jose and Lima, respectively.
The Nakayama surname carries a number of different meanings, including “fields of peace," “between the mountains," and “blessing of peace." It is thought to have originated as a part of the Yamato clan, during the pre-Meiji period of Japan in the seventh century. The surname can also be traced back to Japanese warriors noted in the Heian period of Japan in the 8th to 11th centuries.
Today, the name remains an important part of the shared human heritage; a last name deeply rooted in Japanese culture and shared by people around the world.
Variations of the surname Nakayama
The surname Nakayama is of Japanese origin and is composed of two characters: “naka” meaning “inside” and “yama” meaning “mountain”. Variations of the name include Nakayama, Nakaima, Nakayawa, Nakaizumi, Nakasima and Nakagi.
Nakayama is a common family name in Japan and is written in different ways such as 中山、中山、仲山、中嶋、中檜山、中島 and 中川. Some other variants include 中染、中泊 and 中ノ島.
In addition, the surname also exists in different spellings in the English language such as Nacayama, Nakajima, Nayhyma, Nakayamae, Nakaimo and Nakakhyma. Other popular English spellings include Nakayawma, Nayama and Nykajyma.
In Korea, the surname is typically written as 낙야마, while in China it can be written as 那卡山 or 卡雅玛. In the Philippines, the family name is commonly found as Nakayama-Limbo or Nacayama.
Several surnames have been derived from Nakayama, such as Nachiyama, Nachiya, Nachiymo, Nakatsuma, Nakami and Nakahama. These are mainly used by families who have a long history of living in the Nakayama region.
In Hawaii, some Native Hawaiians have adopted Nakayama as a surname due to the presence of Japanese settlers. The spelling and pronunciation of the name have been altered to fit the local language. It is written as Na Kō Yama or Na Ka Iā Mā.
Overall, the surname Nakayama is found in various spellings and variants today, all of which have been derived from a common root. It is an interesting and unique name that is popular among families in Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, and Hawaii.
Famous people with the name Nakayama
- Hisashi Nakayama: Japanese actor
- Matsuzo Nakayama: Japanese author
- Hiroko Nakayama: Japanese actress
- Satoru Nakayama: Japanese politician
- Midori Nakayama: Japanese singer
- Yoshio Nakayama: Japanese painter
- Masashi Nakayama: Japanese footballer
- Shin Nakayama: Japanese singer
- Miki Nakayama: Japanese actress
- Takehiko Nakayama: Japanese scientist
- Yuuko Nakayama: Japanese fashion model
- Keiko Nakayama: Japanese voice actress
- Yuki Nakayama: Japanese professional wrestler
- Shunichi Nakayama: Japanese actor
- Atsushi Nakayama: Japanese Judoka
- Makoto Nakayama: Japanese actor 17.Hironori Nakayama: Japanese professional wrestler
- Hideo Nakayama: Japanese film director
- Masabumi Nakayama: Japanese photographer
- Toshiyuki Nakayama: Japanese actor