SurnameNo. 8 in Japan
Kobayashi
Kobayashi (小林) is the 8th most common surname in Japan, shared by an estimated 1.06 million people. Its kanji mean small + grove.
こ · ば · や · し · こばやし
What Kobayashi means
小
small
林
grove
Where the name comes from
Like most Japanese surnames, Kobayashi describes a place. Its kanji point to a grove, the kind of landmark a family was known by when surnames became compulsory for everyone in 1875.
Famous people named Kobayashi
Makoto Kobayashi 小林 誠Japanese theoretical physicist (1944–)
Yu Kobayashi 小林 悠Japanese association football player
Kobayashi Issa 小林 弥太郎Japanese writer (1763-1828)
Daigo Kobayashi 小林 大悟Japanese association football player
Tadao Kobayashi 小林 忠生Japanese association football player
Kamui Kobayashi 小林 可夢偉racing driver in Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship
From Wikidata: notable Japanese people with this family name.