Saito
A common Japanese surname, usually written with characters meaning “west” and “wisteria.”
The #7,613 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 70,700 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Saito is a Japanese surname usually written with kanji that can mean “west” (sa) and “wisteria” (to), though the exact characters vary by family. In many cases it is associated with place names or with a locality where wisteria was a distinguishing feature. Because Japanese surnames often have multiple possible kanji spellings, the literal meaning can differ from one branch of the name to another.
History
The surname is long established in Japan and is especially well known through several prominent historical families. In modern times it became familiar outside Japan through immigration and through notable bearers in business, politics, and the arts. In English-language records it is usually written Saito, though long-vowel spellings such as Saito or Saitou may also appear.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Japanese surnames can share a pronunciation while using different kanji, two people named Saito may have the same romanization but different written meanings.