Kobayashi
A common Japanese surname meaning “small forest” or “little grove.”
The #8,568 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,298 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kobayashi is a Japanese surname built from ko, meaning “small,” and hayashi, meaning “woods” or “forest.” In literal terms, it means “small forest,” “little grove,” or “small woods.” Like many Japanese surnames, it most likely began as a place-based name referring to a family living near a grove or wooded area.
History
The surname is widespread in Japan and also common among Japanese diaspora communities abroad, including the United States and Brazil. As with many Japanese family names, it became fixed as hereditary surnames were standardized in the modern period, though the place-name sense is older. It is best known internationally from several notable figures in sports, politics, and business, as well as the surname of the character Mr. Kobayashi in modern popular culture.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Japanese, hayashi can mean a wooded area or grove, so the name has a pleasantly natural, landscape-based feel.