Tanaka
A classic Japanese surname meaning “middle of the rice field.”
The #4,439 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 38,622 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Tanaka is a Japanese surname formed from the elements ta, meaning “rice field,” and naka, meaning “middle” or “inside.” Put together, it originally referred to someone who lived in or near the middle of a rice field or a place identified by that feature. Like many Japanese surnames, it is a straightforward topographic name based on the landscape.
History
Tanaka is one of the commonest surnames in Japan and is found widely across the country. It also appears in overseas Japanese communities, especially in the Americas and parts of the Pacific. The surname has been borne by many notable figures in politics, sports, arts, and science, which has helped make it internationally familiar.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Japanese surnames are written with kanji, Tanaka can sometimes be rendered with different character choices, though the standard spelling and reading remain the same.