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 Tanigawa family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Tanigawa Family History

Tanigawa Surname Meaning

Japanese: written 谷川 ‘valley river’. Some families pronounce the name Tanikawa. It is found mostly in western Honshū.

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 Tanigawa family from?

You can see how Tanigawa families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Tanigawa family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 12 Tanigawa families living in Hawaii. This was about 52% of all the recorded Tanigawa's in USA. Hawaii had the highest population of Tanigawa families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Tanigawa surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Tanigawa ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Laborer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Tanigawa. 43% of Tanigawa men worked as a Laborer and 72% of Tanigawa women worked as a Laborer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Tanigawa were Mill Worker and Servant.

View Census Data for Tanigawa | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    43%
  • Farmer
    16%
  • Farm Hand
    11%
  • Mill Worker
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    72%
  • Servant
    29%

What Tanigawa family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 490 census records available for the last name Tanigawa. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Tanigawa census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Tanigawa

Passenger Lists

There are 905 immigration records available for the last name Tanigawa. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Tanigawa immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 223 military records available for the last name Tanigawa. For the veterans among your Tanigawa ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Tanigawa military records

You've only scratched the surface of Tanigawa family history

Discover More

What is the average Tanigawa lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2004, in the United States, Tanigawa life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Tanigawa in 1958 was 55, and 78 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Tanigawa 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 Tanigawa family tree

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