Surname · Japanese origin
Tanaka
Meaning
The surname Tanaka means Central rice field (田中).
Origin
Japanese
Type
toponymic
The origin of the surname Tanaka
Tanaka (田中) means “(dweller in the) middle of the rice field.”
What kind of surname is Tanaka?
Tanaka 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 Tanaka mean?
The surname Tanaka means Central rice field (田中). Tanaka (田中) means “(dweller in the) middle of the rice field.”
Where does the surname Tanaka come from?
Tanaka is a surname of Japanese origin.
What kind of surname is Tanaka?
Tanaka 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.