Surname Yokoyama - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'Y'
Yokoyama: What does the surname Yokoyama mean?
The last name Yokoyama is a Japanese surname with two kanji characters. The first character, 横, means “horizontal” or “across” while the second one, 山, means “mountain.” The combination of these two characters indicate a meaning far more descriptive than these two words alone. It conveys insight and understanding into the hereditary nature, values, and origins of the bearer of the Yokoyama surname.
At the most basic level, the surname suggests physical traits that could have been passed down from ancestor to ancestor. Japan’s landscape is characterized by several mountain ranges, including the towering and historically famous Mount Fuji. It is possible that the mountain in the surname represents a family’s roots in a particular area, such as the historical origin or present residence of one of their ancestors. Alternatively, the mountain can also symbolize resilience and strength.
More generally, the combination of these two characters can also define family values that have been handed down through generations. While the “horizontal” aspect of the kanji can signify progress and cooperation between family members, the “mountain” can represent stability, endurance, wisdom, and protection. It is likely that the Yokoyama surname was chosen by an ancestor to represent the shared ancestral values of their family. Whatever the case may be, the surname Yokoyama is one that provides a tangible connection to roots and values across generations.
Order DNA origin analysisYokoyama: Where does the name Yokoyama come from?
The last name Yokoyama is commonly found in countries across east and southeast Asia, including Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Amongst the most populous countries, it is best known in Japan, where it is one of the 100 most common surnames, ranking around number 50 in popularity. In Japan, people most commonly with the name “Yokoyama” can generally be found in coastal areas, particularly in the southeastern area of the main island of Honshū. This is likely because of maritime historical roots of the Yokoyama surname, which may have originated from sailors and fishermen. The surname is also seen in the Ryukyu Islands, where it is much less common, likely owing to immigration of people from Honshū centuries ago and subsequent intermarrying with local Okinawan people. In regions outside of Japan, people with the surname Yokoyama can be found in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and regions of Southeast Asia that have significant immigration from Japan. In general, these countries tend to have a much smaller percentage of people with the Yokoyama surname than Japan does.
Variations of the surname Yokoyama
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Yokoyama are Yokoi, Yokoiyama, Yokoi-yama, Yokoizumi, Yokoizawa, Yokohama, Yokogawa, Yokoamachi, and Kakiyama.
Yokoyama is one of the many common Japanese surnames. It is usually composed of two characters; the first one is reads as 'yo' which means four, and the second one reads as 'koyama’ which means mountain. Combined together, the surname Yokoyama symbolizes a family having four mountains, representing strength and stability.
The surname Yokoi originate from the same root kanji used in Yokoyama. Yokoi is found mostly in western Japan, and it is written in three kanji characters; 'yo', 'ko' and 'i'. The kanji 'yo' translates to four, 'ko' is an old way of writing the sound 'koyama', and 'i' means well. Yokoi is also derived from "york" with the same meaning of four mountains.
Yokoiyama and Yokoi-yama are alternate spellings of Yokoi. They are both spelled with two kanji characters; 'yo' and 'koi-yama', and they both mean the same thing as Yokoi, which is four mountains.
Yokozumi and Yokozawa are also variations of Yokoi. Both names substitute the kanji 'zumi' for 'i'. The kanji 'zumi' is an archaic form of the old Japanese word for well. The difference between the two is that 'zumi' is a more casual version of 'i'.
Yokohama is another variation of Yokoyama. It is written with three kanji; 'yo', 'ko' and 'hama' which means beach. This combination of characters is said to represent a family having four beaches, which is a perfect metaphor for the embracing of diversity and new influences.
Yokogawa is a variation of Yokoyama that substitutes the kanji 'gawa' for 'i'. The kanji 'gawa' is an old way of referring to a river, and when combined with the kanji 'yo' it translates to four rivers.
Yokoamachi is a variation of the surname Yokoi that substitutes the kanji 'machi' for 'i'. The kanji 'machi' is an old way of referring to a town or neighborhood, and combined with the kanji 'yo', it translates to four towns or neighborhoods.
Kakiyama is a variation of Yokoyama, where the 'ko' in the surname is substituted for 'ka'. The kanji 'ka' means fire, and combined with the kanji 'yo' it is supposed to represent a family having four fires, which could symbolize warmth, love, and protection.
Overall, the surname Yokoyama is one of the most common names in Japan and can be found with many variants and alternate spellings. Each variation of Yokoyama has its own unique meaning, all deriving from the common origin of 'yo' meaning four and 'koyama' meaning mountain.
Famous people with the name Yokoyama
- Masaki Yokoyama: Japanese actor
- Shinya Yokoyama: Japanese basketball player
- Yū Yokoyama: Japanese actor
- Daisuke Yokoyama: Japanese professional baseballer
- Shintaro Yokoyama: Japanese professional football player
- Takehiko Yokoyama: Japanese professional baseball pitcher
- Sannyo Yokoyama: Japanese media personality
- Otten Yokoyama: Japanese professional shogi player
- Yuka Yokoyama: Japanese voice actress
- Yuko Yokoyama: Japanese writer
- Ayumu Yokoyama: Japanese professional footballer
- Mitsuhiro Yokoyama: Japanese professional wrestler
- Toshiaki Yokoyama: Japanese professional cyclist
- Mitsuo Yokoyama: Japanese video game music composer
- Yoshiko Yokoyama: Japanese singer-songwriter
- Yuko Yokoyama: Japanese female voice actress
- Naomi Yokoyama: Japanese actress
- Masaaki Yokoyama: Japanese seiyū director
- Fumihiro Yokoyama: Japanese shogi player
- Hiroto Yokoyama: Japanese professional tennis player
- Atsuko Yokoyama: Japanese folk singer-songwriter
- Momoe Yokoyama: Japanese female enka singer
- Yudai Yokoyama: Japanese professional football player
- Akira Yokoyama: Japanese professional golfer
- Naoki Yokoyama: Japanese professional footballer
- Eriko Yokoyama: Japanese illustrator and character designer
- Masashi Yokoyama: voice actor, scriptwriter and critic
- Chisato Yokoyama: Japanese female singer-songwriter
- Jigo Yokoyama: Japanese novelist
- Mikio Yokoyama: Japanese professional baseball player