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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 look into the surnames of prestigious families in Akita Prefecture. If you have ever had a classmate with a surname like that, it's possible that they actually come from a good family
30 Surnames Connected to Prestigious Families in Akita Prefecture ( in Alphabetical Order)
Akita Prefecture seems to have many distinguished families with samurai roots. It also seems that many old families moved from Hitachi Province (around present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) due to the Satake clan being transferred to the Kubota Domain (Akita Domain)
Aoyagi
This is an old family from Kakunodate, Senboku County (Kakunodate Town, Senboku City) who were vassals of the Aizu Ashina clan, and after the Ashina clan became extinct, accompanied the Satake clan when they were transferred to Dewa. They served the Satake clan, and after the Meiji Restoration, they became successful in the financial industry and even produced a mayor of Kakunodate. The house is preserved and open to the public as one of the Kakunodate Samurai Residences
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. They were local lords from Akaotsu (Yurihonjo City), Yuri County, Dewa Province. They are said to have entered Yuri County during the Nanboku-cho period.
Asagi
A wealthy merchant from Tsuchizaki Port (Akita City). He started out as a kimono and fabric merchant, then expanded into sake brewing, pawnbroking, and money lending, quickly making a fortune. He also served as a merchant purveyor to the Akita Domain
Clams
A feudal lord of Hinai County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. A member of the Asari clan of Kai, he became the local lord of Hinai County during the Kamakura period and developed into a feudal lord. His castle was Dokko Castle (Odate City)
Ando
A feudal lord of the Mutsu and Dewa Warring States period, said to be a descendant of Abe Sadato, but the truth of this is unknown. Originally a powerful clan in Tsugaru, they skillfully used sea routes to control what is now Akita, Aomori, and the area around Hakodate in Hokkaido, and also had a pirate-like side. For a time, they separated into the Hiyama Ando clan and the Minato Ando clan, but during the reign of Ando Yoshiki, the two families were reunited and renamed the Akita clan, with .
The lord of the Yajima Domain (present-day Yajimacho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture). At the end of the Edo period, he sided with the new government forces and became a baron after the Meiji Restoration. His family was originally the lord of the Takamatsu Domain in Sanuki Province (present-day Kagawa Prefecture)
A local lord of Akita County, Dewa Province. The family of the lord of Taihei Castle (Akita City)
Iwaki
The family was the lord of the Kameda Domain (present-day Iwaki Kameda, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture). They were members of the Iwaki clan, a feudal lord in the Sengoku period of Iwaki County, Mutsu Province. After the Meiji Restoration, they became viscounts
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. They were based near Iwatani in Yuri County (present-day Iwatani-cho, Yurihonjo City), and served the Mogami clan after the Battle of Sekigahara.
Uchikoshi
the twelve powerful families known as the Yuri Junitou, who existed throughout Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period . Their power was centered around Uchikoshi, Yuri County (present-day Uchikoshi, Yurihonjo City).
Odano
Odano Naotake, a senior vassal of the Akita domain and a branch of the Tokiwa Satake family, served the eighth lord of the domain, Satake Yoshiatsu. He is also famous for illustrating Sugita Genpaku's Kaitai Shinsho (Anatomy New Book) and as the founder of Akita Western painting
A feudal lord in the Semboku region of Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The Shimotsuke Onodera clan was appointed as the head of the Ogatsu County in Dewa Province for their achievements in the Oshu Wars, and during the Kamakura period they entered Inaniwa (Yuzawa City), Ogatsu County, Dewa Province, which is famous for its Inaniwa udon noodles. During the Sengoku period, they ruled the entire Semboku region from their base at Yokote Castle (Yokote City)
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan was influential around Kataho, Yuri County (present-day Kataho, Nishime-cho, Yurihonjo City), and served the Mogami clan during the Battle of Sekigahara. They later served the Sakai clan and became samurai of the Tsuruoka domain.
Kawarada
An old family in Kakunodate, Senboku District (Semboku City). A hereditary family of the Ashina clan dating back to the Aizu period, they later served the Satake Kita clan. The family has produced many talented people, including a Sinologist, an Akita Prefectural Assembly member, and the mayor of Kakunodate Town. The mansion is preserved and open to the public as a Senboku City designated historic site
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan was influential mainly around Kutsuzawa, Yuri County (present-day Tateishi, Yajima Town, Yurihonjo City), and, like the Yajima and Nikaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan.
Koyoshi
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan had power mainly around Koyoshi, Yuri County (present-day Umeda, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nikaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and after the Battle of Sekigahara, they served the Mogami clan, and during the Edo period, the Satake clan.
Satake
The lord of the Akita Domain (Kubota Domain). Originally a great feudal lord in Tokiwa Province, he was transferred to Kubota, Dewa Province (Akita City) after the war because he sided with the Western Army in the Battle of Sekigahara. However, in Akita, it is said that "Akita City was founded in 1602 when Satake Yoshinobu was transferred to another province," and he was such a prominent family that he laid the foundation for the domain's administration
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan was influential mainly around Shimomura, Yuri County (present-day Higashi-Yurigura, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nikaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and after the Battle of Sekigahara, they served the Mogami clan, and during the Edo period, they became vassals of the Satake clan.
Serita
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan had power mainly around Serida, Yuri County (present-day Serida, Nikaho City). After the Battle of Sekigahara, they served the Mogami clan.
Takizawa
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed throughout Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. The clan was influential mainly around Takizawa, Yuri County (present-day Takizawa-kan, Maego, Yurihonjo City). After the Battle of Sekigahara, they served the Mogami clan, and after the Mogami clan was abolished, they served the Rokugo clan, becoming chief retainers of the Honjo Domain until the end of the Edo period.
Suda
Akita Domain Chief Retainer. During the Sengoku period, he was a senior vassal of the Nikaido clan in Sukagawa (Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture), and after the fall of the Nikaido clan, he became a vassal of the Satake clan. When the Satake clan was transferred to Akita, he moved to Yokote, Dewa
Toumai (rice balls)
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period . The clan was influential mainly around Tamamai, Yuri County (present-day Higashi-Yuridate, Yurihonjo City). Like the Yajima and Nikaho clans, their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and after the Battle of Sekigahara, they served the Mogami clan. After the Mogami clan was abolished, they served the Rokugo clan until 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 (Akita City). As he was from Kai Province, he ran a pawn shop under the name "Kaiya."
Nikaho
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed in various parts of Yuri County, Dewa Province during the Sengoku period . They had power mainly around Yajima in Yuri County (present-day Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City). Their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and they were closely related to the Yajima clan. Based on the family crest, etc., it is also suggested that they are related to Oe Hiromoto.
Due to his achievements in the Battle of Osaka, he established the Nikaho Domain with a fief of 10,000 koku. Today, it is a rare surname with only around 10 people, mainly in Akita
the twelve powerful Yuri clans that existed throughout Yuri County, Dewa Province, during the Sengoku period . Their power was centered around Naone, Yuri County (present-day Naone, Chokai-cho, Yurihonjo City), and their ancestors were vassals of Kiso Yoshinaka, known as Nenii Yukichika. They belonged to the Yajima clan, but after their downfall, they served the Nikaho clan. From the Edo period onward, they changed their name to Endo and served the Ikoma clan (Yajima Domain).
Main Hall
A local lord of Senboku County, Dewa Province. Their base was Motohondou Castle (Misato Town, Senboku County). Currently, this surname is relatively common in Aomori and Iwate prefectures
Masaki
He was a chief retainer of the Akita Domain and a descendant of the Satake clan. He accompanied the Satake clan when they were transferred to Akita, and became a senior vassal of the Akita Domain from the Edo period onwards. During the Boshin War, he represented the domain and participated in the Imperial army
Yajima
The Yuri clan was one of the twelve powerful families that existed in Yuri County , Dewa Province during the Sengoku period. They had power mainly around Yajima in Yuri County (present-day Yajima-cho, Yurihonjo City). Their ancestors were called the Oi clan, and they were closely related to the Nikaho clan.
Rokugo
He was a local lord from Rokugo, Yamamoto County, Dewa Province (Rokugo, Misato Town, Senboku County). After the Battle of Sekigahara, he was transferred to Tokiwa Province (present-day Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture) and established the Hitachi Fuchu Domain. Later, Rokugo Masanori was granted an additional 20,000 koku and moved to Honjo (present-day Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture), where he founded the Honjo Domain
Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs.
