This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Nakai family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Nakai Family History

Nakai Surname Meaning

Native American (Navajo): from an American English spelling of a (shortened) Navajo personal name based on the name naakaii for a Mexican or for a member of the Navajo clan Naakaii dine'é ‘Mexican People’.

Japanese: written 中井 ‘central well’. It originated in Mikawa (now part of Aichi prefecture) and is also found in the island of Okinawa.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Nakai family from?

You can see how Nakai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nakai family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1891 and 1920. The most Nakai families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there was 1 Nakai family living in Surrey. This was 100% of all the recorded Nakai's in United Kingdom. Surrey had the highest population of Nakai families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nakai surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Nakai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Clerk were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Nakai. 24% of Nakai men worked as a Laborer and 31% of Nakai women worked as a Clerk. Some less common occupations for Americans named Nakai were Truck Driver and Waitress.

View Census Data for Nakai | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    24%
  • Farmer
    18%
  • Gardener
    13%
  • Truck Driver
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    31%
  • Dressmaker
    24%
  • Weaver
    16%
  • Waitress
    16%

What Nakai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Nakai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nakai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Nakai

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Nakai. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nakai immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 438 military records available for the last name Nakai. For the veterans among your Nakai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nakai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Nakai family history

Discover More

What is the average Nakai lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Nakai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1979. The average life expectancy for Nakai in 1959 was 71, and 66 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Nakai ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Nakai family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial