Surname Endo - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Endo: What does the surname Endo mean?
The last name Endo is a Japanese surname derived from a toponym in ancient times. During the 7th and 8th centuries, the surname Endo was adopted by people who originally lived in the area known as Endo-te, located in what is now Shimane Prefecture.
The surname Endo literally translates to “distance within” or “inside” and it's thought to be an indication of the nearby physical characteristics of the place. Specifically, Endo-te was situated between two rivers, the Oda River to the east and the Kantogawa River to the west.
The surname Endo is also thought to have originated from the Jinja-Shindaigo (上社神代語) words, “endormasu,” which literally translates to “enter the shrine.” Both this and the toponymy etymology suggest that the surname Endo was possibly taken from people in ancient times who lived near or around a particular shrine, likely as priests or shrine stewards.
In modern times, the surname Endo remains common among Japanese people both living in Japan and abroad. It is certainly one of the oldest surnames in Japanese history, and those who bear the surname Endo remain connected to their ancient roots.
Order DNA origin analysisEndo: Where does the name Endo come from?
The last name Endo is a relatively common surname in a few East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China. In Japan, the name has been present since at least the 17th century when samurai of the Endo clan served a prominent Japanese shogun of the time. In South Korea, the name first appeared in the early 19th century when a man of the Endo clan served one of the Joseon dynasty monarchs. In China, the name has been recorded in the famous Ming Dynasty record book known as the Collected Works of the forgot Ancestor.
In modern times, Endo is still a fairly common last name though its prevalence is much lower than before. According to a 2016 Japanese census, around 64,000 people in Japan share the last name Endo, which constitutes around 0.05% of Japan's population. The false name is also fairly popular in China, and it is among the top 1,000 most common last name in the country. The prevalence of Endo in South Korea is much lower than in Japan or China, however, as less than 4,000 people in South Korea share the last name.
Variations of the surname Endo
Endo is a surname of Japanese origin. It is spelled Endoh, Endou, Endô, Endoo, Endoue, Endowe, or Endohu in different dialects of Japanese. Other variants include En’do, Endōu, Endo-u, Endô-u, En’dō, End'ō, En'dōu, Endo-u-u, and End’ou.
The surname Endo can also take on surnames of Chinese and Korean origin, as well as Okinawan, Taiwanese, and Indonesian variants. In Chinese, it is spelled 仁藤，Yin De, and Wada; while in Korean, it is spelled 인도 and Eundeo. Okinawan variants include Anything and Onawe. Indonesian variants include Endo-e and Hondo.
The patrons of the surname are descended from the emperors of Japan who are of the Kotosugiyama clan. The ancestors of this clan are believed to have descended from Prince Kiyohito (867-939 A.D.), the second son of Emperor Uda.
The meaning of the surname Endo is "the gate to the mountain". It is believed to refer to the historical gates of the Japanese imperial palace, which symbolize protection and safety. The surname is also associated with admirable traits such as goodness, virtue, and wisdom.
The Endo surname is found in the Japanese provinces of Aichi, Miyagi, Tochigi, Yamagata, Akita, and Iwate; and in various Okinawan islands including Okinawa, Miyako, and Ishigaki. There is also a notable population of Endos in Indonesia and many members of the Endo family have emigrated to various countries throughout the world. In the United States, they are concentrated mostly in California, New York, and Hawaii.
Famous people with the name Endo
- Masaru Endo: acclaimed Japanese film director, screenwriter, producer and professor of film at Joshibi University of Art and Design in Tokyo.
- Satoshi Endo: Japanese alpine skier and athlete who participated in the 1998 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Yutaka Endo: acclaimed Japanese actor, screenwriter and director, who has starred and appeared in various films and television shows since the 1990s.
- Ai Endo: video game designer, illustrator and producer who has worked for such companies as Bandai Namco and Sony Computer Entertainment.
- Kan Endo: award-winning sculptor and professor of sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts. He has held various solo art exhibitions in Tokyo and around the world.
- Kenichiro Endo: Japanese anesthesiologist and professor at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He is known for conducting research and directing numerous medical organizations.
- Tsuyoshi Endo: Japanese judoka and multiple-time Olympic competitor who competed at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Hiroyuki Endo: Japanese professional footballer who plays for the Japanese J1 League club Cerezo Osaka.
- Haruki Endo: prominent Japanese figure skater known for his graceful and flowing skating style.
- Yoshiki Endo: Japanese snowboarder and Olympic competitor, who represented Japan at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.