Japanese last names ending in -ue / -kami

24 surnames built on 上, above, upper, with their meanings.

The kanji 上 means above, upper. At the end of a surname it is read ue or kami, depending on the sound before it. Like most Japanese surnames, names ending in it describe where a family lived. Inoue (井上) is 井 well + 上 above; Murakami (村上) is 村 village + 上 above; Kawakami (川上) is 川 river + 上 above.

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
井上Inouewell + aboveTop 100 surname
村上Murakamivillage + aboveTop 100 surname
川上Kawakamiriver + above148
三上Mikamithree + above98
水上Mizukamiwater + above40
河上Kawakamiriver + above25
中上Nakagamimiddle + above18
水上Minakamiwater + above16
最上Mogamiutmost; most + above16
尾上Onouetail + above15
石上Ishigamistone + above15
坂上Sakagamislope + above12
田上Tagamirice field + above10
江上Egamiinlet + above9
浦上Urakamibay + above7
井之上Inouewell + of (classical) + above7
戸上Togamidoor + above6
阪上Sakagamislope + above6
岩上Iwauerock + above4
浦上Uragamibay + above4
大上Ōkamibig + above3
道上Michiueway + above3
佐上Sagamito help + above3
稲上Inagamirice plant + above3

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