History of your Surname
Get access to Shirai family records.Start a free trial

Shirai Family History

Shirai Name Meaning

Japanese: written 白井 ‘white well’. It is found mostly in eastern Japan.

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


Similar surnames: Shiraki, Hirai, Shiba, Shima, Iwai, Imai, Sinai, Shirer, Shirk, Shiro

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Shirai family from?

You can see how Shirai families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shirai family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1880 and 1920. The most Shirai families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 4 Shirai families living in Pennsylvania. This was 100% of all the recorded Shirai's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Shirai families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shirai surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Shirai ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Fisherman was the top reported job for people in the USA named Shirai. 15% of Shirai men worked as a Fisherman. .

View Census Data for Shirai | 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

  • Fisherman
    15%
  • Cook
    15%
  • Waiter
    15%
  • Laborer
    15%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Shirai family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 516 census records available for the last name Shirai. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shirai census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Shirai

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Shirai. 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 Shirai immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 173 military records available for the last name Shirai. For the veterans among your Shirai ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shirai military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shirai family history

Discover More

What is the average Shirai lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2003, in the United States, Shirai life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Shirai in 1962 was 37, and 78 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shirai

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shirai family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Shirai last name

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