Japanese last names ending in -shima / -jima

80 surnames built on 島 / 嶋, island, with their meanings.

The kanji 島 means island. At the end of a surname it is read shima or jima, depending on the sound before it. Like most Japanese surnames, names ending in it describe where a family lived. Nakajima (中島) is 中 middle + 島 island; Kojima (小島) is 小 small + 島 island; Ōshima (大島) is 大 big + 島 island.

The list is ordered by how many notable people on Wikidata share each surname, so the most familiar names come first. Surnames from Japan's 100 most common are linked to their own pages.

KanjiNameMeaningNotable people
中島Nakajimamiddle + islandTop 100 surname
小島Kojimasmall + islandTop 100 surname
大島Ōshimabig + island244
川島Kawashimariver + island142
中島Nakashimamiddle + island116
飯島Iijimameal + island92
三島Mishimathree + island62
高島Takashimahigh + island56
矢島Yajimaarrow + island48
北島Kitajimanorth + island41
松島Matsushimapine + island37
児島Kojimachild + island35
鹿島Kashimadeer + island31
岡島Okajimahill + island31
川嶋Kawashimariver + island28
小嶋Kojimasmall + island27
野島Nojimafield + island21
中嶋Nakashimamiddle + island20
新島Niijimanew + island19
高嶋Takashimahigh + island19
河島Kawashimariver + island17
八島Yashimaeight + island17
津島Tsushimaharbour + island17
田嶋Tajimarice field + island15
水嶋Mizushimawater + island15
水嶋Mizushimawater + island15
賀島Kashimacongratulations + island14
西島Nishijimawest + island13
副島Soejimavice-; assistant + island13
手島Teshimahand + island13
松嶋Matsushimapine + island11
岡嶋Okajimahill + island11
矢嶋Yajimaarrow + island11
生島Ikushimalife + island11
原島Harashimafield + island10
森島Morishimaforest + island10
貴島Kijimaprecious + island10
下島Shimojimabelow + island9
真島Mashimatrue + island9
霧島Kirishimafog; mist + island9
西嶋Nishijimawest + island9
児嶋Kojimachild + island9
牛島Ushijimacow + island8
永嶋Nagashimaeternity + island8
前嶋Maejimafront + island8
平島Hirashimapeace + island7
浦島Urashimabay + island7
辛島Karashimaspicy; bitter + island7
木嶋Kijimatree + island7
江島Ejimainlet + island6
三嶋Mishimathree + island6
村島Murashimavillage + island6
北嶋Kitajimanorth + island6
安島Ajimapeace + island6
桐島Kirishimapaulownia tree + island6
青嶋Aoshimablue + island6
河嶋Kawashimariver + island5
小島Ojimasmall + island5
成島Narushimato become + island5
五島Goshimafive + island5
桑島Kuwajimamulberry + island5
奥島Okushimainner + island5
星島Hoshijimastar + island5
徳島Tokushimavirtue + island5
鹿嶋Kashimadeer + island5
原嶋Harashimafield + island5
井嶋Ijimawell + island5
小田島Odashimasmall + rice field + island4
上島Kamijimaabove + island4
尾島Ojimatail + island4
牧島Makishimapasture + island4
八嶋Yashimaeight + island4
霜島Shimojimafrost + island4
森嶋Morishimaforest + island4
早嶋Hayashimaearly + island4
兒島Kojimachild; young of animals + island4
守島Morishimato protect + island4
小田島Odajimasmall + rice field + island3
手島Tejimahand + island3
田嶋Tashimarice field + island3

Surnames and counts: Wikidata (CC0) and the Meiji Yasuda 2008 surname survey.