How To Know If You Are Descended From Japanese Royalty?

Question

I want to know because my last name is very old and comes from the Heiki samurai clan and isn't a common Japanese name. Also, I believe I once read that a man during the feudal Japan period once raided a castle and took over, he had my family's last name so yeah...

Thanks if you can help!

xoxo

Answer 1

I think you would probably have to build your family tree... and go back a long long way!  Ask your oldest relatives from this line if they have ever researched this idea - and go from there!

Answer 2

The Japanese samurai warriors came into existence in the 12th century when two powerful Japanese clans fought bitter wars against each other - the Taira and the Minamato. Taira or Hira (å¹³) is a Japanese clan name. In reference to Japanese history, along with Minamoto, Taira (Hira) was a hereditary clan name bestowed by the emperors of the Heian Period to certain ex-members of the imperial family when they became subjects.

The Taira clan is often referred to as Heishi (平氏, literally "Taira clan") or Heike (平家, literally House of Taira ), using the character's Chinese reading hei. Offshoots of the imperial dynasty, some grandsons of Emperor Kammu were first given the name Taira in 825 or later. Afterwards, descendants of Emperor Nimmyō, Emperor Montoku, and Emperor Kōkō were also given the surname. The specific hereditary lines from these emperors are referred to by the emperor's posthumous name followed by Heishi. i.e. Kammu Heishi.

Answer 3

I doubt it, the samurai were never royal, they were a warrior class who were loyal and would protect the royal family.

Answer 4

Yes, you would have to trace back your family tree and you can do this by reading Japanese history books about the war lords, samurai and clans. Try to learn more about this guy and his family descendants. But you would have to read really deep into history as he could have had many kids and probably could have had some illegitimate kids as well.

Who knows? you could probably be the heir to a vast fortune of wealth.

Answer 5

If their are pictures of geisha girls around your family house or photo album then you know there is not royalty in your family. Only thing royal to Japanese is rice, pzzy, karate.