The surname Kawana is of Japanese origin and is derived from a place name. In Japan, surnames were often chosen based on the location where a person's ancestors originated. In this case, the surname Kawana comes from the province of Kawana in ancient Japan, which is located in present-day Shiga Prefecture. The characters for "Kawana" mean "rice field" or "paddy field."
The surname Kawana is of Japanese origin, specifically from the Ryukyu Kingdom (present-day Okinawa). It is derived from the Ryukyuan language, where "kawa" means "river" and "nā" or "naa" can mean "house" or "village", so Kawana translates to "River Village" or "Village by the River". The surname was traditionally associated with the ruling class in the Ryukyu Kingdom. After Japan's annexation of the kingdom in 1879, the surnames of the nobility were changed to the Japanese system, and Kawana became a common surname among Okinawan descendants. Today, it is found not only in Okinawa but also among Japanese diaspora communities worldwide.
The surname Kawana is predominantly found among the Japanese population and its geographical distribution primarily reflects the historical and cultural ties between Japan and Hawaii. In Japan, Kawana is one of the most common surnames, particularly in the prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto. However, the highest concentration of people with this name outside of Japan can be found in Hawaii due to Japanese immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for sugarcane plantation labor. In Hawaii, Kawana is considered one of the "Hawaiian names" as a result of this historical migration, and it's often spelled with an 'a' instead of the traditional Japanese 'o'. Additionally, there are small communities of people with the surname Kawana in other parts of the world, such as the United States mainland, Brazil, Canada, and Peru, where Japanese immigrants have settled.
The surname Kawana has several variants and spellings across different regions and historical periods. Some common variations include: Ka'wana, Ka'uwana, Ka'uana, Kauwana, Kawanā, Kawanaa, Cawana, Keawana, and Ka'uwanaa. These variations may stem from differences in the application of Hawaiian orthography or the influence of foreign phonetic systems. In addition, family names can also be passed down through different lines, leading to additional variations within the same lineage. For example, some branches might use Kawana while others might use a variant such as Ka'uwana.
Notable individuals with the surname Kawana include:
1. George Ariyoshi Kawana (born 1932), the first Japanese-American governor of Hawaii, serving from 1974 to 1978.
2. Jack Kawana (1926-2006), an American actor and stuntman known for his work in numerous films and television shows during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
3. Keone Kela Kawena, a Hawaiian musician and composer who was one of the pioneers of the slack key guitar style.
4. Linda Kawana (born 1942), an American painter and sculptor who is part of the postminimalist art movement.
5. Richard D. Kawana (1937-2020), a United States Army general who served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific from 2016 to 2018.
These individuals have made significant contributions in various fields such as politics, entertainment, music, and art.
The surname Kawana originates from Japan and is associated with the powerful samurai class. The name's etymology can be traced back to the ancient Japanese word "kawa" meaning river, and "nari" meaning to become or take. Over time, it evolved into the modern form of Kawana. One of the most notable historical figures bearing this surname is Tadakatsu Honda (1548-1610), also known as Kawana no Kami, a legendary samurai from the Sengoku period who served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Kawana family rose to prominence in the Edo period, with several members holding high-ranking positions within the Tokugawa shogunate administration. Today, Kawana remains a common surname in Japan, with a significant number of bearers residing on the island of Honshu.
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