SurnameNo. 97 in Japan
Watanabe
Watanabe (渡部) is the 97th most common surname in Japan, shared by an estimated 0.19 million people. Its kanji mean to cross + section.
わ · た · な · べ · わたなべ
What Watanabe means
渡
to cross
部
section
Where the name comes from
The kanji of Watanabe mean to cross + section. Many surnames like it began as descriptions of a family's land, trade or position before surnames were required for every household in 1875.
Famous people named Watanabe
Hidemaro Watanabe 渡部 英麿Japanese association football player (1924-2011)
From Wikidata: notable Japanese people with this family name.