SurnameNo. 16 in Japan
Inoue
Inoue (井上) is the 16th most common surname in Japan, shared by an estimated 0.60 million people. Its kanji mean well + above.
い · の · う · え · いのうえ
What Inoue means
井
well
上
above
Where the name comes from
Like most Japanese surnames, Inoue describes a place. Its kanji point to a well, the kind of landmark a family was known by when surnames became compulsory for everyone in 1875.