Show ContentsKawasaki Surname History

The proud surname Kawasaki comes from the East Asian nation of Japan. It is made up of two elements: "kawa," meaning "river," and "saki," meaning "edge."

Early Origins of the Kawasaki family

The surname Kawasaki was first found in the Heian period, when members of the higher classes first began to assume surnames that were based on their occupations, their cities of origin, or a local feature of their places of residence. The name Kawasaki was most likely originally assumed by someone living near the edge of a river. The aristocratic Kawasaki family was instrumental during this early period, playing a major role in the development of a uniquely Japanese culture.

Early History of the Kawasaki family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kawasaki research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kawasaki History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kawasaki Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kawasaki, Kawasacki, Kawasacky and others.

Early Notables of the Kawasaki family

More information is included under the topic Early Kawasaki Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kawasaki family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Kamejiro Kawasaki, who emigrated from Shiga to the United States in 1905; Kansuke Kawasaki, a native of Hiroshima who settled in Nevada in 1907; and Jitsuichi Kawasaki, who was recorded in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1924..


Contemporary Notables of the name Kawasaki (post 1700) +

  • Yosuke Kawasaki (b. 1977), American musician
  • Guy Kawasaki (b. 1954), American author and venture capitalist
  • Audrey Kawasaki (b. 1982), American artist
  • Scott Kawasaki, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alaska, 2004 1
  • Lillian Kawasaki, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 1
  • Duke Kawasaki, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii, 1960 1
  • Yoshizo Kawasaki, prominent still-life photographer
  • Ryo Kawasaki (b. 1947), well-known jazz-rock guitarist
  • Minoru Kawasaki (b. 1961), Japanese politician
  • Jirô Kawasaki (b. 1947), Japanese politician
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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