Surname Arai - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Arai: What does the surname Arai mean?
The last name Arai is most commonly seen in Japan and is derived from the Japanese word “arai”, which means "king's court". It is believed that the name was first adopted by a person who was associated with a court under the authority of a king.
The name can also be derived from the old Japanese word for new house, known as araya, symbolizing the start of a new life. In some cases, the name indicates a geographical origin from the Japanese region known as Arai.
The surname is associated with those of samurai rank, with samurai warriors and their families often taking the Arai surname. These families often held prestigious titles such as Kugyō (公卿) and Daijō-daijin (大従頭).
In addition, Arai is a representation of the Ainu word Are, and may be adopted by Ainu people with connections to the area around Noto Peninsula.
Arai is an uncommon last name, but can be found mainly in Japan, as well as parts of Hawaii and California, where there are large Japanese-American populations.
Arai is an important part of Japanese culture and conveys a strong sense of heritage and honor. It stands as a reminder that even in the face of great adversity, individuals and families can remain resilient and connected to their cultural roots.
Order DNA origin analysisArai: Where does the name Arai come from?
The last name Arai is most commonly found in Japan, but is also found in other countries around the world. In Japan, it is estimated that there are around 100,000 individuals with the last name Arai. The name is used by both men and women, though is more commonly used by men. Outside of Japan, there are around 700 people with the last name Arai. It is predominantly found in North and South America, though it has also been recorded in regions in Europe and Asia.
In Japan, the last name is most commonly associated with the city of Nagasaki, the prefecture of Nagasaki, or the region of Kyushu. It is also commonly found in the Tōhoku region, particularly in the region around the city of Sendai.
The origin of the last name Arai is not clear, however, it is believed to have originated from the Japanese words for “cleared field”. The name is thought to have been taken by farmers who settled the land and farmed it. Over time, the name became associated with the family of farmers who resided in the area.
Throughout history, members of the Arai family have held prominent roles in Japanese society. Notable Japanese people with the last name Arai include Hideaki Arai, a professional baseball player and former Major League Baseball player; Akito Arai, a professional wrestler; and Fumio Arai, a notable Japanese architect and professor at Tokyo University.
The last name Arai is still seen frequently throughout Japan today, however, it is also found in other countries around the world. With its origins in agriculture and its ties to notable Japanese figures, the last name Arai is sure to continue to be seen for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Arai
The surname Arai is a Japanese surname, and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
In Japanese Romaji, the standard way to write Japanese using the Latin alphabet, one spelling of the name is “Arai”. In Katakana, a Japanese script used for writing foreign words, it is written as "アライ". In Kanji, the Chinese characters used in Japanese writing, the name is written with the characters (新井) which literally mean “New Well”.
One of the most common variants of this surname is ARAI (アライ) which was originally spelt with the two Kanji characters (新井). This variant is commonly found in Japanese telephone directories.
The surnames with the same origin as Arai include Araishi (荒石), Araiwa (新粟), Araitani (新谷), and Araizumi (新住).
Other spellings of Arai in various languages include ARAE in Hangul (the Korean writing system), ARIE in Japanese Hiragana (a Japanese syllabary used for writing native words), ARRAY in Chinese, AöRHAI in Mongolian, and ARYA in Arabic.
It is possible to find some Arai families that have changed their last name for various reasons. Some examples includeARAEI (新井), ARAIE (新瑛) and ARAWI (新藤).
In all, the surname Arai has many variations, spellings, and variants, depending on the language used to write and pronounce it.
Famous people with the name Arai
- Hideki Arai: a professional motorcycle racer in the Pokémon Jump Festa tournament.
- Naoki Arai: a Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder for Vissel Kobe and the Japanese national football team.
- Tatsuji Arai: a Japanese composer and conductor, best known for his film scores for Rurouni Kenshin and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade.
- Haruka Arai: a Japanese idol, singer and former member of the idol group Nogizaka46.
- Satoshi Arai: a professional alpine ski racer.
- Takuma Arai: a Japanese motorcycle racer and a former Super GT500 champion in 2009.
- Yosuke Arai: a Japanese professional baseball player in the Nippon Professional Baseball for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
- Ryui Arai: a Japanese actor, and the leader of the boys band Mytic Xpress.
- Natsuki Arai: a Japanese idol, singer and former member of the idol group, μ's.
- Yoshimitsu Arai: a Japanese actor and stunt performer, best known for his roles in Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Terror of Mechagodzilla, and Dagwon.