Origin of your surname and forename !
NomOrigine

Last Name Yamashiro

Discover my family history now

What is the origin of the last name Yamashiro?

The surname Yamashiro originates from Japan. It is a toponymic surname derived from the old name for Kyoto, which was historically known as Yamashiro no Kuni or simply Yamashiro. This region was one of the ancient provinces of Japan and its capital city, Heian-kyo (modern Kyoto), was the imperial capital from 794 to 1185. Over time, this place name evolved into a family name for various samurai and noble families in Japanese history.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Yamashiro

The meaning and origin of the last name Yamashiro

The surname Yamashiro is of Japanese origin, derived from a geographical location in ancient Japan. The name translates to "Mount Yama" or "Yamaguchi," referring to the Mount Fuji region, and "shiro" meaning castle or fortress. It was often given to people who lived near such a place or were associated with its ruling family. Over time, the name evolved into Yamashiro as a surname, becoming relatively common in Japan. Notable individuals bearing this surname include the late Japanese Emperor Meiji and contemporary actor Takuya Kimura.

Geographical distribution of the last name Yamashiro

The Yamashiro surname is predominantly found in Japan, particularly in the Kansai region, which includes the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. Historically, the name is associated with the Yamashiro Province, one of the eight traditional provinces of Japan, located in the same area. However, due to migration, individuals with the surname Yamashiro can also be found in various parts of the world, such as the United States, Brazil, and Peru, where Japanese immigrants have settled over the years.

Variants and spellings of the last name Yamashiro

The last name Yamashiro has several variations and spellings due to differences in transliteration and transcription over time. Some of these variations include:

1. Yamasiro
2. Yamashyrow
3. Yamashira
4. Yamacyro
5. Yamashyrowa
6. Yamaschira
7. Yamashera
8. Yamaziro
9. Yamasjero
10. Yamaguchi (different last name but similar pronunciation in Japanese)

These variations may appear in different languages and regions, stemming from slight differences in the way the name is written or pronounced in various contexts. It's important to note that these variations can cause confusion when searching for individuals with this surname.

Famous people with the last name Yamashiro

Notable individuals with the surname Yamashiro include:

1. Shizuka Yamashiro (born 1976), a Japanese model and former actress who won the Miss Universe Japan title in 1996.

2. Hiroshi Yamashiro (born 1950), a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017, representing the Liberal Democratic Party.

3. Akira Yamashiro (born 1968), a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name "Great Sasuke". He has worked for various promotions, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling.

4. Yuriko Yamashiro (born 1972), a Japanese actress who began her career in the mid-1990s. She has appeared in numerous films and television shows, such as "Battle Royale" and "Gokusen".

5. Katsuyuki Yamashiro (born 1968), a former Japanese football player who played for various clubs throughout his career, including Gamba Osaka and Yokohama F. Marinos. He also represented the Japan national team at the 2002 World Cup.

Genealogical research on the last name Yamashiro

The Yamashiro surname originates from Japan and is derived from the place-name Yamashiro, which refers to an ancient Japanese province located in the Kansai region, now modern-day Kyoto prefecture. Historically, the name was borne by several prominent samurai families during the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods. One of the most notable families is the Minamoto-Yamashiro clan, a branch of the powerful Minamoto clan, which played a significant role in Japanese politics and warfare throughout the Middle Ages. In modern times, the Yamashiro surname can be found among Japanese immigrants in various countries, particularly in Brazil and Peru, where it is often spelled Yamasiro or Yamaziro due to differences in romanization systems.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

NomOrigine Team
About the author :

NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

Last updated :

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Messenger Telegram

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

#1 Yam

Last name • surnames > yam

The surname Yam does not have a clearly identified single origin as it is common among various ethnic groups and languages. 1. Japanese origin: In Japanese, "Yam" can be a shorten...

#2 Yamaan

Last name • surnames > yamaan

The last name "Yamaan" originates from the Arabic language. It is a surname commonly found in Arabic-speaking countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. T...

#3 Yamad

Last name • surnames > yamad

The last name "Yamada" is of Japanese origin. It is a common surname in Japan, which means "mountain rice paddy" when translated to English. It is believed to have originated from ...

#4 Yamaguchi

Last name • surnames > yamaguchi

The surname Yamaguchi is of Japanese origin and is derived from a place name. The characters "山口" (Yamaguchi) literally mean "foot of the mountain," referring to a location nea...

#5 Yamaha

Last name • surnames > yamaha

The surname Yamaha does not originate from a traditional Japanese family name (seimyōshi) but instead derives from the name of a renowned Japanese corporation. The Yamaha Corporat...

#6 Yamaha fzs

Last name • surnames > yamaha-fzs

The last name "Yamaha FZS" appears to be of Japanese origin. "Yamaha" is a well-known Japanese multinational corporation that produces motorcycles, among other products. "FZS" may ...

#7 Yamahwe

Last name • surnames > yamahwe

Yamahwe is a surname of Native American origin, specifically from the Cherokee tribe.

#8 Yamaka

Last name • surnames > yamaka

The last name "Yamaka" is of Japanese origin. It is derived from the word "yama" which means mountain and "ka" which means scent or fragrance.

#9 Yamamura

Last name • surnames > yamamura

The surname Yamamura is of Japanese origin. In Japanese, "Yama" means mountain and "Mura" means village, so the name Yamamura can be translated to "mountain village". It is a fairl...

#10 Yaman

Last name • surnames > yaman

The surname Yaman is of Turkish origin. It is derived from the Turkish word "yaman," which means "harsh" or "severe." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname fo...

#11 Yamanaka

Last name • surnames > yamanaka

The surname Yamanaka is of Japanese origin. It translates to "mountain shelf" or "ridge" in English, derived from the words "yama," meaning mountain, and "naka," meaning inside or ...

#12 Yamaniya

Last name • surnames > yamaniya

The last name "Yamaniya" has origins in Japan. It is derived from the Japanese place name "Yamaniya," which means "mountain valley" or "mountain house."

#13 Yamanoglu

Last name • surnames > yamanoglu

The surname Yamanoglu is of Turkish origin. It translates to "son of Yaman" in English, with Yaman being a common male Turkish given name derived from the word "yaman," which means...

#14 Yamareyan lej

Last name • surnames > yamareyan-lej

The last name "Yamareyan Lej" appears to have origins in Ethiopia.

#15 Yamasaki

Last name • surnames > yamasaki

The surname Yamasaki is of Japanese origin. It is derived from the Japanese words "yama" meaning "mountain" and "saki" meaning "cape" or "promontory." Therefore, Yamasaki can be in...