About the Japanese surname Utada? Meaning? Popularity?

Question

I am FULLY aware that Utada is the name of a very famous Japanese singer by the name Utada Hikaru. I am not asking about her.

I was wondering about the surname of Utada. Does it have an English meaning? How often is it used? Is it a popular name? What English surname equivilance would it have here in America based on popularity? Is it as well used as the last name Smith or as uncommon as the last name Arterbury?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Utada may be written either 歌田 or 宇多田. In the first case the meaning is 'song' (-da being a common ending, besides 'a field', it does not mean anything), the other spelling is rather phonetical.

Either case, it's not very common.