This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
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 Akita 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 Akita Prefecture ( alphabetical order)
It seems that Akita Prefecture has many famous families with roots in samurai. It also appears that many old families moved from Hitachi Province (around today Ibaraki Prefecture) due to the Satake clan, which was transferred to the Kubota Domain (Akita Domain).
Aoyagi
After the Aizu Ashina clan's retainer and after the Ashina clan was cut off, he was a former family in Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-gun (Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-shi), who accompanied him as a subordinate of the Satake clan, and was accompanied by the Dewa transfer. The family served the Satake Kita family, and after the Meiji Restoration they were successful in the financial industry, and produced the mayor of Kakunodate. The mansion is preserved and publicly reserved as a house that forms the Kakunodate samurai mansion.
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period The Japanese people of Akaozu (Yurihonjo City), Yuri District, Dewa Province. It is said that he joined Yuri County during the Nanboku-cho period.
Asagi
A wealthy merchant in Tsuchizaki Minato (Akita City). He began as a kimono and a thick product dealer, and then expanded his arms into the sake brewery, pawn shops, and money lenders, and made his fortune in a short period of time. He also served as a resident merchant for the Akita domain.
Asari
A Sengoku Daimyo in Dewa Kunihi District. It was a family of the Kai Asari clan, and during the Kamakura period, it became the head of Hinai County and became a downward and lord. It was located in Dokusou Castle (Odate city).
Ando
He is a Sengoku daimyo in Mutsu and Dewa, and is said to be a descendant of Abe Sadato, but the truth is unknown. Originally a powerful clan in Tsugaru, he skillfully used the sea routes to control the current areas of Akita, Aomori, and Hakodate, Hokkaido, and has a pirate-like side. At one point they parted ways with the Hiyama Ando clan and the Minato Ando clan, but during Ando Aiki's era, the two families merged again and Tsuchizaki Minato Castle (Akita City) was renamed the castle to be renamed the Akita clan .
He is the lord of the Yajima Domain (now Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture). He was assigned to the new government forces at the end of the Edo period and became a baron after the Meiji Restoration. It was originally the family of the lord of the Takamatsu Domain of Sanuki Province (now Kagawa Prefecture).
The national people of Akita County, Dewa Province. A clan of the castle lords of Taihei Castle (Akita City).
Iwaki
The family lineage of the lord of the Kameda Domain (now Iwaki Kameda, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture). A clan of the Sengoku Daiichi Iwaki clan in Iwaki District, Mutsu Province. He became a viscount after the Meiji Restoration.
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period Based near Iwatani, Yuri County (now Iwatani-cho, Yurihonjo City), he served the Mogami clan after the Sekigahara War.
Uchikoshi
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period It had a power mainly around Uchikoshi, Yuri County (now Uchikoshi, Yurihonjo City).
Odano
He is a senior retainer of the Akita Domain and is a common style of the Tokiwa Satake family. Odano Naotake, who served the 8th feudal lord, Satake Yoshitsune, is famous for drawing pictures for Sugita Genpaku's "Kaita Shinsho" and being the founder of Akita Ran paintings.
A Sengoku Daimyo in the Senboku region of Dewa Province. The Shimoto Onodera clan was appointed as the Chi-goto of Dewa Kunigatsu County in Dewa Kunigatsu County, for their achievements in the Battle of Oshu, and began working in Inawai (Yuzawa City), Dewa Kunigatsu County, which was famous for its Inawai udon, during the Kamakura period. During the Sengoku period, it was based at Yokote Castle (Yokometa City) and ruled the entire Senboku region.
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period It was a family with power, mainly around Kataho, Yuri County (now Kataho, Nishime-cho, Yurihonjo City), and during the Battle of Sekigahara it belonged to the Mogami clan, and later served the Sakai clan and became a samurai of Tsuruoka domain.
Kawarada
An old house in Kakunodate (Senboku City) in Senboku District. It was the family of Fudai, the Ashina clan, from the Aizu period, and later served the Satake Kita family. The family has produced many talented people, including Chinese scholars, Akita Prefectural Assemblyman, and Kakunodate Town mayor. The mansion is preserved and open to the public as a designated historic site in Senboku City.
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period It was a family that had a strong influence mainly around Kutsuzawa, Yuri County (now Tateishi, Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City), and, like the Yajima and Nigaho clans, its ancestors were called the Oi clan.
Koyoshi
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period A family that has a strong influence, mainly around Koyoshi, Yuri County (now Uda, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nigaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and they served the Mogami clan after the Sekigahara War and the Satake clan during the Edo period.
Satake
Lord of the Akita Domain (Kubota Domain). Originally a great daimyo in Tokiwa Province, he belonged to the Western Army during the Battle of Sekigahara, so he was remanded to Dewakubota (Akita City) as a postwar disposition. However, in Akita, it is said that Akita City began in 1602, when Satake Yoshinobu was replaced by the country, and was a famous family and family that solidified the foundation of the domain government, so important that it was established.
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period A family that has a strong presence, mainly around Shimomura, Yuri County (now Higashi Yurizo, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nigaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and after the Sekigahara war he served the Mogami clan, and during the Edo period he became a vassal of the Satake clan (vassals).
Serita
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period A family that has a strong force, mainly around Serida, Yuri County (now Serida, Nikaho City). After the Sekigahara battle he served the Mogami clan.
Takizawa
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period A family that has a strong presence, mainly around Takizawa, Yuri County (now Takizawakan, Maego, Yurihonjo City). After the Sekigahara War he served the Mogami clan, and after the Mogami clan was reformed, he served the Rokugo clan and became the chief retainer of the Honjo clan, and reached the end of the Edo period.
Suda
Senior to the Akita domain. During the Sengoku period, he was a senior retainer of the Nikaido clan of Sukagawa (Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture), and after the fall of the Nikaido clan he was a subordinate of the Satake clan. Following the transfer of Mr. Satake to Akita, he turned to Dewa Yokoto.
Toumai
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period A family that has a strong influence, mainly around Tamame, Yuri County (now Higashi-Yurikan-kai, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nigaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and after the Sekigahara war he served the Mogami clan, and after the Mogami clan was reformed, he served the Rokugo clan, reaching the end of the Edo period.
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.
A wealthy merchant in Kubota Castle Town (Akita City). Since he came from Kai Province, he ran a pawn shop under the name Kaiya.
Nikaho
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period It had a power mainly around Yajima, Yuri County (now Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City). His ancestors call him the Oi clan, and are close to the Yajima clan. Family crests and other points out that his relationship with Oe Hiromoto is also being made.
Due to his achievements in the Osaka Campaign, he established the Nigaho domain, which is 10,000 koku. Currently, there are only about 10 people, mainly in Akita, and are rare.
Tomo Nesai. It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period The forces were mainly located near Naone, Yuri County (now Naone, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City), and his ancestors were called Nei Yukichika, a retainer of Kiso Yoshinaka. Although he belonged to the Yajima clan, he renamed the Nigaho clan after its destruction, and after the Edo period he renamed Endo and served the Ikoma clan (Yajima clan).
Main Hall (Hondo)
The national people of Senboku District, Dewa Province. It was based in Hondo Castle (Misato Town, Senboku District). Currently, there are relatively many surnames in Aomori and Iwate prefectures.
Masaki
Senior to the Akita domain. Mr. Satake's common style. He accompanied the Satake clan to move to Akita, and from the Edo period onwards he became a senior retainer of the Akita domain. During the Boshin War, he represented the domain and joined the government army.
Yajima
It is one of the twelve Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period It had a power mainly around Yajima, Yuri County (now Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City). His ancestors call him the Oi clan, and are close to the Nigaho clan.
Rokugo
The nation of Rokugo, Yamamoto County, Dewa Province (Rokugo, Misato Town, Senboku District). After the Sekigahara War, the country was changed to Tokiwa Province (now Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture) and established the Hitachi Fuchu Domain. After that, Rokugo Masakazunari increased to 20,000 koku and moved to Honjo (now Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture) to establish the Honjo Domain.
![Sea of clouds and Mt. Iwate view from Hachimantai](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/25437226_m-150x150.jpg.webp "Is "Hachimantai" Table Mountain in Tohoku? A paradise of a plateau between volcanoes and marshlands [Akita/Iwate]")
