Endo Family History

Japanese (Endō): written 遠藤 ‘far wisteria’ designating Fujiwara of Tōtōmi. En ‘far’ is a Sino-Japanese pronunciation of the tō element in the placename Tō-tsu-umi ‘farther lake’ (now part of Shizuoka prefecture) which refers to Lake Hamana and was shortened by usage to Tōtōmi.

The name is found mainly in eastern Japan where it is borne by several families descended from the Taira and southern Fujiwara clans although it is also found in the Ryūkyū Islands.

It is also spelled Endoh and Endow in America.