NameCensus.

UK surname

Kato

A Japanese surname meaning "increase wisteria" or "add wisteria," likely referring to the flowering plant.

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Kato surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 167, ranked #22,055, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Westminster and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kato is 167 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2285.7%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

167

2016, ranked #22,055

Peak year

2016

167 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kato had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016, ranked #22,055.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kato surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kato surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kato surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kato over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 2 #33,133
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 40 #33,856
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 53 #32,674
2002 modern 60 #32,388
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 167 #22,055

Geography

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Where Katos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Westminster, Bristol and West Lancashire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 012 Barnet
2 Barnet 020 Barnet
3 Westminster 003 Westminster
4 Bristol 007 Bristol, City of
5 West Lancashire 004 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kato

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kato surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kato

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kato, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Kato surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kato household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kato is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kato is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kato falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kato is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kato, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kato

The surname KATO has its origins in Japan and can be traced back to the 8th century AD. It derives from the Japanese word "kato," meaning "upper," referring to a high or elevated place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KATO appears in the Shoku Nihongi, an early 9th-century imperial chronicle. It mentions a village named Kato-mura, which translates to "Upper Village," likely the birthplace of someone bearing the name KATO.

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the name KATO gained prominence as it was borne by several influential samurai families. One notable figure was Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611), a daimyo (feudal lord) who played a crucial role in the Siege of Osaka in 1615.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the KATO surname was associated with various domains and territories, indicating its spread across Japan. The Kato clan of Aizu, for instance, was a prominent samurai family that ruled the Aizu Domain in present-day Fukushima Prefecture.

Another notable figure was Kato Hiroyuki (1836-1916), a statesman and diplomat who served as the first President of the House of Peers in the early Meiji period. He was instrumental in shaping Japan's modern political system.

The KATO name has also been carried by several renowned writers and artists. One example is Kato Shūichi (1919-2008), a celebrated novelist and essayist known for his works exploring existential themes.

Spanning centuries of Japanese history, the KATO surname has been borne by numerous individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from warfare and politics to literature and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kato surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kato surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Kato surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kato surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016. That gives Kato a modern rank of #22,055.

What does the Kato surname mean?

A Japanese surname meaning "increase wisteria" or "add wisteria," likely referring to the flowering plant.

What does the Kato map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kato bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.