30 surnames with roots in prestigious and prestigious families in Yamagata Prefecture

Aoiwa
2025.06.27
Last updated: 2025.06.25

Every place across Japan, there are prestigious and famous families who are rumored to be so-called "local famous people." Even if you say, "We are a very ordinary family," it is not uncommon to find that if you trace our ancestors carefully, they actually belong to a family of venerable samurai.

In this article, we looked into the surnames known as prestigious and prestigious families in various parts of Yamagata Prefecture. If you ever had a classmate with such a last name, then that friend might actually be from a good family...

30 surnames connected to prestigious and famous families in Yamagata Prefecture ( alphabetical order)

I got the impression that there are many surnames in the Shonai region, on the Sea of Japan, with roots in wealthy merchants, while inland areas there are many surnames that are connected to powerful samurai.

Ayukai

He was a vassal of the Yonezawa Date clan, and was a retainer of the Yonezawa Date clan, where he lived at Ayu Kaijo (Ayu Kai, Shirataka-cho, Nishiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture), located on the border with the Mogami family. Later, when Date Masamune moved to Iwadeyama, Moritsugu also moved to Tsutsumi, Shibata District (Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture).

Akino

A wealthy merchant in Kamo Village, Tagawa County (Tsuruoka City). Later, they began a sake brewing business, and from the end of the Meiji period to the Taisho period, the family also produced mayors of Kamo Town.

Abumiya

A wealthy merchant who ran a ship wholesaler under the name "Tsujiya" in Sakata Minato (Sakata City). His surname was "Shiraya," which was converted from the name "Shiraya," which was his business name since 1807. The old, restored and renovated Strolley is preserved and published as a nationally designated historic site.

Link: Yamagata Shonai Tourist Site – Formerly Shiroya

Uesugi (Uesugi)

The family of the Echigo Uesugi family, the lord of the Yonezawa domain, is a famous clan with many famous figures, including Uesugi Kenshin, a daimyo of the Sengoku period, Uesugi Kagekatsu, one of the five great elders of the Toyotomi government, and Uesugi Takayama, the ninth lord of the Yonezawa domain, who was famous for his financial reconstruction of the Yonezawa domain.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Who is Uesugi Takayama, the portrait figure that is always displayed at elementary and junior high schools in Yonezawa City? [Yamagata Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10509

Did you know that the elementary and junior high school gymnasium in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture is decorated with a portrait of Uesugi Takayama? It seems that Yonezawa citizens are familiar with him and are known as "Kimi Takayama", but what kind of person is it enough to have portraits displayed at school? And did the President of the United States respect him? I also heard this rumor, so I was really curious about who it was, so I looked into it! He also mentioned Uesugi Takayama's history, and why is he familiar with the citizens? I would like to introduce you to this! Uesugi Takayama and Uesugi Takayama, the Yonezawa Uesugi family, are the 9th lords of the Yonezawa domain of Dewa (now Yamagata Prefecture).

Oe

A famous tribe, founder of Oe Hiromoto, the senior retainer of the Kamakura Shogunate, who is famous as one of the 13 members of the Kamakura Lord. It is also pointed out that its relationship with the place name of Oe Town. It is common in the Murayama region, centered around Higashine City.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

One of the "13 people at Kamakura-dono" and relationship between Minamoto Yoritomo's Chiebukuro Oe Hiromoto and Yamagata Prefecture, one of the "19 people"

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/16147

Oe Hiromoto, who appears as one of the main characters in the NHK Taiga drama "The 13 People of Kamakura," is the person who supported the Kamakura Shogunate with his clear intelligence. It is said that the system of "guardian jito" that appears in history classes was inspired by Oe Hiromoto and recommended by Minamoto Yoritomo. Did you know that Oe Hiromoto, an indispensable member of the Kamakura shogunate, was actually a person with a deep connection to Yamagata Prefecture, far from Kamakura? This time, we will introduce the relationship between Minamoto Yoritomo's confidant, Oe Hiromoto and Yamagata. It is believed that Oe Hiromoto was born in 1,148 (Kuan 4th year), at the end of the Heian period. (The origin...

Okitama

A family with roots in the Okitama region (Yonezawa, Nagai, Nanyo, etc.). It is distributed among the wealthy farmers and village villagers of the Edo period. This is a very rare surname, which is said to have only about 10 people in the Okitama region.

Oda

The family was a descendant of Oda Nobunaga, who went from Takahata to Tendo in 1830. Former Tendo Domain lord.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

What is the relationship between Oda Nobunaga and Yamagata? We also introduce precious portraits and shrines dedicated to Nobunaga (Yamagata Prefecture)

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10846

When you think of popular Sengoku warlords, who do you think of? I'm sure there are many people who imagine Oda Nobunaga, a warlord who aimed to unify the world in a war-torn world. This time, we will unravel the relationship between Yamagata Prefecture and the Oda family, and introduce places associated with it, such as portraits that are said to be the most similar to Nobunaga, and shrines that worship Nobunaga. What is the relationship between the Oda family and Yamagata? When it comes to Oda Momo (the Oda family crest) When it comes to places with close ties to Oda Nobunaga, the image of Owari Province (the ending, now Aichi Prefecture) is probably the most powerful. Why Yamagata, a Tohoku region far from Owari Province, has a connection to the Oda family...

Onoda

A wealthy merchant who rose to the rise of miso and soy sauce brewing in Tsuruoka Castle (Tsuruoka City) during the Genroku period.

Kazaori

A wealthy merchant who revived as a rice wholesaler under the name Iseya in Tsuruoka Castle Town (Tsuruoka City).

Kazama

A wealthy merchant who rose to become a kimono and a wealthy wholesaler under the name "Kaneya" in Tsuruoka Castle Town (Tsuruoka City). In the Meiji era, he began working in lending and was also famous as the largest landowner after the Honma family. Heishindo, which was the store and residence of the family's money lending business, has been preserved and published as a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.

Link: Former Kazama Family Housing – Heishindo

Kaminoyama

He is a leading national in Dewa, based in Kamiyama Castle (now Kamiyama City, Yamagata Prefecture). For some reason, there are more households in Iwate and Aomori than Yamagata, calling themselves "Kamiyama".

Sakai

The lord of the Tsuruoka domain (later Oizumi domain). The family follows Sakai Tadatsugu, who is said to be the leader of the four Tokugawa Heavenly Kings, the Tokugawa Tadatsugu. The Yamai Warehouse, a tourist attraction in Sakata City, was built by the wealthy merchant Honma family, with instructions from the Sakai family, the lord of the Shonai domain. It is designated as a national historic site.

Link: [Agency for Cultural Affairs] Cultural Heritage Online – Yamai Warehouse

Sagae

He was a tributary of Oe Hiromoto, a senior retainer of the Kamakura Shogunate, famously one of the 13 members of Kamakura Hall, and ruled Sagae-so as the lord of the Japanese lord. Another name: A Sengoku Daimyo in Dewa, also known as the Sagae Oe clan. Currently, surnames are widely distributed throughout the prefecture, mainly in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

One of the "13 people at Kamakura-dono" and relationship between Minamoto Yoritomo's Chiebukuro Oe Hiromoto and Yamagata Prefecture, one of the "19 people"

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/16147

Salmon (sake nobe)

The national people of Mogami District, Dewa Province. He built Salmon Enjo Castle in Mamurokawa Town, now in Mogami County, and fought against the Mogami family, but was defeated, and from then on he belonged to the Mogami family and ruled northern Mogami County. A rare surname that is said to exist only about 10 people.

Landowner (Jinushi)

Originally from Mikawa Province (now the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture), he moved to Tsuruoka following the adjunction of the Sakai clan. In the late Edo period, he became a wealthy merchant who owned a lot of land, and was also a samurai with a 150 koku roster. Currently, there are many surnames in Tohoku in the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture.

Shiratori

Lord of Shiratori Castle (Shirotori City, Yamagata City) in Mogami District, Dewa Province. He belongs to the Mogami clan. In the current Tohoku region, there are many in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture and Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture.

Daihoji Temple

A Sengoku Daimyo in Tagawa County, Dewa Province. He was founded by the Muto clan, who served Minamoto Yoritomo, and was the head of Oizumiso, so he called himself Oizumi, but during the Nanboku-cho period, he built Daihoji Castle (later Tsurugaoka Castle) in Babacho, what is now Tsuruoka City, and after that he called himself Daihoji Temple and ruled the Shonai region.

Takemata

He was the chief retainer of the Yonezawa domain and was active as an aide to Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku period. Currently, this is a surname that can be seen in Fukushima Prefecture as well as Yamagata Prefecture.

Tateoka

A surname based on the Tateoka clan, a common-class family of the Mogami clan and was a territory of Tateoka Castle in Dewa Province (Tateoka, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture). Tateoka Mitsushige, a warlord from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period, is famous.

Chisaka

He has been a family of retainers and vassals who have served the Uesugi family since the Muromachi period and are the family of the Yonezawa clan. Chisaka Hyobe, who appears in "Chushingura," is famous. A surname that is commonly seen in Miyagi Prefecture today.

Tendo

A Sengoku Daimyo in Dewa. It was based in Tendo Castle (now Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture). Originally, the family was based in the tradition of the Seiwa Genji Nitta clan, and when they adopted the Mogami clan during the Nanboku-cho period, they became a member of the Ashikaga clan and Shiba clan. At the end of the Sengoku period, he built a large force in the northern part of the Murayama region and served as the leader of Mogami Yatate, a powerful national alliance in the Murayama region. Currently, there are many surnames in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture and Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture.

Tozawa

Lord of Dewa Shinjo Domain. Originally a Sengoku daimyo in the Senboku region of Akita Prefecture, it was transferred to Shinjo in 1622. Tozawa Moriyasu, who was highly wise and brave, was feared by the nicknames "Onikuro" and "Yashakuro" and "Tozawa Moriyasu" is famous. A surname that is still commonly seen in Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, which is its roots today.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Three Sengoku warlords from Akita Prefecture! Ando Aiki, Tozawa Moriyasu, Onodera Keido

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10213

During the Sengoku period, Akita Prefecture was a state of rivalry, and the influences of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu in the central area were intertwined in a complex way. Among them, we will be introducing three warlords who have been highly regarded as having excellent knowledge and bravery. "The Big Dipper behind the Haba" Ando Aiki (1539-1587) The Ando clan is a Sengoku daimyo with castles at Hiyama Castle in Noshiro City and Wakimoto Castle in Oga City, and is a Sengoku daimyo with a layout of nearly half of Akita Prefecture. Aiki unified the Hiyama Ando clan and Minato Ando clan to expand the layout to the fullest, and was praised as the "Dosei of the Northern Heaven" as a warlord with excellent wisdom and bravery. Ando Aiki (Tohoku University Library Collection) Exhibited: Wikiped...

Nobesawa

Nobesawa Mitsunobu, the master of Nobesawa Castle (Ohanazawa City), and a famous general who served as a part of the Mogami Yatate, a powerful national alliance in the Murayama region. It is said that Mogami Yatate collapsed after Mitsunobu was pulled out by the Mogami family. The name also remains at the Nobezawa Ginzan Ruins near Ginzan Onsen. Although there are few absolute numbers, these are surnames that can be found in addition to Yamagata Prefecture, as well as Hyogo Prefecture and Tokyo.

Haga

A merchant who ran a second-hand clothing and thick goods dealer in Tsuruoka Castle Town (Tsuruoka City). He inherited the town's elders for generations, and was one of Tsuruoka's most representative wealthy merchants until around the mid-Edo period.

Honma (really)

A wealthy merchant in Sakata Minato (Sakata City). The family owned so much land that it said, "It's not as good as Honma-sama, but at least it was a lord," and at the time it was said to be the largest landowner in Japan. The former main residence of the Honma family is currently being preserved and open to the public.

Link: Official website of the former Honma family home

Mizuno

A family of Mizuno Tadakuni, the senior middle school in the Edo Shogunate. He served as the lord of the Dewa Yamagata Domain for approximately 25 years from 1845 to 1870.

Mogami

A Sengoku daimyo who follows the course of the Seiwa Genji Shiba clan. The family was a family that could hereditary over the Muromachi Shogunate's Ushu Tanto, and during the 11th head of the family, Mogami Yoshiaki, he became a great daimyo with the Yamagata Domain worth 570,000 koku. Currently, there are relatively many surnames in the Tohoku region of Aomori, Akita, and Yamagata, as well as in Miyagi Prefecture, as well as in the Sea of Japan side of the Tohoku region and in the Miyagi Prefecture.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Three Sengoku warlords from Yamagata Prefecture! Mogami Yoshimitsu, Naoe Kanetsu, Shimura Mitsuyasu

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10204

During the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, a major battle called the Keicho Dewa Battle took place in Yamagata Prefecture. The battle between the Mogami forces of the eastern army based at Yamagata Castle and the Uesugi forces of Aizu and Yonezawa who sided with the western forces was a fierce battle that will be remembered for generations to come. What is the other Sekigahara “Keicho Dewa Battle”? After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ishida Mitsunari raised an army at Osaka Castle on July 24, when Tokugawa Ieyasu was heading out to conquer Uesugi Kagekatsu in Aizu. Ieyasu, who was in Shimotsuke (Tochigi Prefecture), returned to Edo, and the Tohoku generals who had gathered for the Aizu conquest also returned to their castles. Ieyasu and Hidetada split into Tokaido and Nakasendo and depart from Edo...

Yagashiwa

The national people of Murayama District, Dewa Province. The Tani Kashiwa Naoi, a retainer of the Mogami family, is famous. He served as an envoy for peace during the conflict between the Mogami clan and Date clan, and also attended the meeting between Yoshimitsu and Date Harumune and Terumune.

Yamaya (Yanbe)

It is said to be the surname that originated in Yamaya Village, Murayama-gun, Dewa Province (now Higashimurayama-gun). It is said that when he moved to Uwajima, Iyo Province as a retainer of the Date family, it spread to western Japan. It is common in the area around Zao Town in southern Miyagi Prefecture.