Surname · Japanese origin
Kobayashi
Meaning
The surname Kobayashi means Small forest (小林).
Origin
Japanese
Type
toponymic
The origin of the surname Kobayashi
Kobayashi (小林) means “small forest.”
What kind of surname is Kobayashi?
Kobayashi is a toponymic surname, originally describing where the bearer lived or came from. It belongs to the Japanese naming tradition — you can read how Japanese surnames were formed on our Japanese last names page.
Other Japanese surnames
Other toponymic surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Kobayashi mean?
The surname Kobayashi means Small forest (小林). Kobayashi (小林) means “small forest.”
Where does the surname Kobayashi come from?
Kobayashi is a surname of Japanese origin.
What kind of surname is Kobayashi?
Kobayashi is a toponymic surname, originally describing where the bearer lived or came from.
What are other Japanese surnames?
Other Japanese surnames include Hashimoto, Hayashi, Ikeda, Inoue, Ishikawa, Ito.