Minamoto (surname) explained

MINAMOTO
Pronunciation:	Mì-ná-mó-tó
Gender:	Male, Female
Language:	Japanese
Origin:	Kanji 　源 Hiragana:　みなもと Katakana:　ミナモト
Meaning:	Source; Origin; Root
Region:	Kyoto, Japan

is an ancient and noble Japanese family name^[1] that is mostly known for its history as a powerful clan during the Heian period.

The name itself is not common today as most of the descendant families have taken other surnames, usually from their places of residence.^[2]

People

Historical figures

• , seventh son of the Japanese Emperor Saga
• , Japanese poet and statesman, son of Emperor Saga of Japan
• , Japanese court official during the Heian period and son of Emperor Montoku of Japan
• , early Heian waka poet and Japanese nobleman, also known as
• , Japanese waka poet of the mid-Heian period
• , middle Heian waka poet and Japanese nobleman, also known as
• , birth name of Emperor Daigo of Japan until 887
• , court attendant (Koui) of Emperor Daigo of Japan
• , middle Heian waka poet and Japanese nobleman
• , waka poet and Japanese nobleman active in the Heian period
• , Japanese mid Heian waka poet, scholar and nobleman, descendant of Emperor Saga of Japan
• , Japanese nobleman and gagaku musician in the Heian period
• , early Heian waka poet and Japanese nobleman
• , Japanese noble and a scholar of ancient Japan, also known as
• , Japanese samurai and Imperial Prince during Heian period
• , Japanese samurai and court official of the Heian period
• , Japanese samurai served the regents of the Fujiwara clan along with his brother Yorinobu
• , Japanese samurai commander and member of the powerful Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai, companion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu, also known as Watanabe no Tsuna
• , Japanese samurai lord and the Chinjufu-shōgun head of the Minamoto clan
• , prominent Japanese poet whose works appeared in various anthologies
• , important and innovative Japanese poet, who compiled the Gosen Wakashū
• , Japanese nobleman and waka poet in the Heian period
• , Japanese samurai in the Battle of Uji in 1180 during that part of Genpei War
• , Japanese samurai in the Battle of Uji in 1180 during that part of Genpei War
• , Japanese samurai and the Chinjufu-shōgun head of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai and head of the Minamoto clan during his lifetime
• , Japanese samurai lord during the Heian period
• , Japanese samurai warlord of the late Heian period, founder of the Takeda Clan (武田氏) of Japan
• , Japanese samurai who first implored the spirit of the Iwashimizu Shrine
• , Japanese progenitor of the Nitta branch family of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai, founder of the Ashikaga clan of Japan (also known as Ashikaga Yoshiyasu (足利 義康))
• , Japanese general of the late Heian period and head of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai who fought in the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156
• , brother of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and commanders in the Genpei War
• , Japanese samurai lord in the late Heian period
• , Japanese samurai of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese samurai of the Minamoto clan of the late Heian period
• , Japanese samurai, founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan
• , Japanese general during late Heian period of the Minamoto clan
• , Japanese commander of the Minamoto clan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods
• , son of Emperor Go-Shirakawa of Japan, also known as Prince Mochihito
• , Japanese governor in Kawachi province
• , waka poet and Japanese nobleman active in the early Kamakura period
• , waka poet and Japanese nobleman active in the early Kamakura period
• , third shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan
• , eldest son of the 2nd Kamakura shōgun Minamoto no Yoriie
• , second son of 2nd Kamakura shōgun Minamoto no Yoriie, also known as the priest Kugyō (公暁)
• , daughter of Kitabatake Morochika, and Imperial consort to Emperor Go-Daigo of Japan

Modern era

• , Japanese sport shooter
• , Japanese freestyle swimmer

Fictional characters

• , in Japanese manga Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun
• , in anime television series Digimon Frontier
• , in Japanese manga Tactics
• , in the visual novel Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!
• , in anime television series Zombie Land Saga
• , in Japanese manga and anime Doraemon

Others

• Minamoto clan, the most powerful and most important clan of all four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi and Edo periods in Japanese history.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. . 2010-11-30 . 常用漢字表 . 常用漢字表（平成22年11月30日内閣告示） . 49 . Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan.
2. Book: Hanks, Patrick . Dictionary of American family names . Lenarčič . Simon . 2022 . Oxford University Press . Peter McClure . 978-0-19-024511-5 . Second . Oxford.
3. Book: Gibney, Frank . Britannica International Encyclopedia . TBS-Britannica . 1984 . Shisei: "Genji" . 47462068.
4. Book: Frédéric, Louis . Japan Encyclopedia . Harvard University Press . 2002 . 9780674017535 . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 439–452 . en.