Surname Miura - Meaning and Origin
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Miura: What does the surname Miura mean?
The last name Miura is a common Japanese surname meaning “three rivers.” According to tradition, it originates from a place in northern Japan called “Miura” which was known for its three rivers. The Miura family were believed to have lived there since the 9th century, when it was part of the Kanto region.
The Miura surname is derived from the Japanese word “miu” which means “three.” It is believed that the surname originated when members of the Miura clan used the three rivers of their hometown as their family coat of arms. This design was eventually adopted as the family crest. It has also been used by a few warriors and daimyo families, such as the feudal lord Honda Heihachiro during the Edo period.
In some cases, the last name Miura has been spelled differently. Some examples include Murai, Mura, and Myura. It is also possible that it has derived from a different language, though this is not clear.
The Miura surname is still quite common in Japan today. It is mostly seen as a surname but it can also show up more generally in Japanese culture. For example, the Miura Peninsula is a popular tourist destination located south of Tokyo. It is also fairly common as a surname in other parts of the world, especially in countries with high concentrations of Japanese people, such as the United States, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Order DNA origin analysisMiura: Where does the name Miura come from?
The last name Miura is most commonly located in Japan, specifically in the surrounding area of Miyazaki prefecture, Kyushu Island. Outside of Japan, the name can be found in many other countries around the world like Brazil, Peru, and the United States.
In Japan, the Miura name is quite popular in the Tsushima Islands, between Kyushu and Korea. There are even two villages named Miura in the area, which are part of the Nagasaki prefecture. The Miura family in Japan is known for their samurai heritage which dates back hundreds of years.
For centuries, the Miura family have also been influential landowners in Japan and are known for their private sheltered ports which they developed during the Edo period.
In terms of larger communities, within Miyazaki prefecture you can find the Miura district which is located near Aburatsu city. This district has a population of around 1,500 people who mainly work in the agriculture and livestock industry.
Outside of Japan, the Miura name is most common in the United States specifically throughout the state of California. In the city of Los Angeles there is even a church named the Miura Harumi United Methodist Church.
The Miura family is quite spread out throughout the world and while it is certainly most common in Japan, it is still rather common in many other countries, including the United States.
Variations of the surname Miura
The surname Miura is of Japanese origin and is derived from the Japanese 三浦 which means "three bays". Variants of this surname that may be seen include: Mura, Murahashi, Miurahashi and Myurahasi. It may also be spelled in a variety of different ways, such as Miurahase, Myurahase, Murahashi, and Muraoka. This surname is also commonly seen in various other parts of Asia, including Brazil and Korea.
In Brazil, a variant of this surname is seen as “Mirando”, and in Korea, spellings are seen as “Maenam” and “Maeram”. In addition, variations of the surname seen in other countries include “Meuron” in France; “Mowrst” in England; “Miuren” in Sweden; and “Miur” in Spain.
There are a few surnames which can be traced back to this origin as well, including “Koumiya”, “Murakami” and “Sengaku”. “Koumiya” and “Murakami” both have their origin in the area of the Miura peninsula, which is mentioned in classic literature. The surname “Sengaku” can be traced to the professional warriors and pirates known as the Sengaku samurai who patrolled the seas near the Miura peninsula in search of loot.
As one can see, there are many variants, spellings and surnames related to the same origin as the surname Miura. Despite having different spellings in different countries, they all trace back to the same ancestor, the Miura family.
Famous people with the name Miura
- Takehiko Miura: Takehiko is a critically acclaimed and award-winning manga artist, most known for his series Vagabond. He is heralded for his unique style of imagery and detailed drawings.
- Kazumi Miura: Kazumi is a professional footballer from Japan, currently playing for the Yokohama FC. He is considered to be the oldest professional football player in the world, at the age of 51.
- Miyu Miura: Miyu is a Minamisōma born actress and model, who has appeared in movies and television shows such as Yamikin Ushijima-kun and Collage of Our Life.
- Ryouichi Miura: Ryouichi is a Japanese voice actor and actor, well known for his roles in Chibi Maruko-chan, Slam Dunk and Iron Man 28.
- Tetsuo Miura: Tetsuo is a Japanese musician and composer, most known for his work in the video game industry and penning music for titles such as Time Crisis 4 and Blaster Master Zero II.
- Takuya Miura: Takuya is a Sumo wrestler from Torigoe, Tokyo. He is known for his strength and skill in the ring and is the first foreign-born Japanese wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division.
- Yumeha Miura: Yumeha is a model and singer, best known as an ex-member of the girl group AKB48. She released her first solo single in April of 2016.
- Keisuke Miura: Keisuke is a professional basketball coach and former player, currently coaching the Yokohama B-Corsairs of the Japanese B-League.