How are Japanese surnames written? On, Kun, or both?

Question

Yes, I know most of them are written in kanji.

But how are they written? Are the surnames/kanji either all kun-readings and meanings, all on-readings and meanings, or are they allowed to be written in both?

Answer 1

Amnesia?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Like I said, both. There is no set rule. You can have all on, all kun, or a mixture.

Answer 2

鬼頭

on:kitou

kun:onigashira

Both reading are existent for surname.

沢城

kun and on:sawaki ("sawa" is kun, "ki" is on)

kun:sawashiro

Both reading are existent for surname.

古家

on:koya

kun:furuie

on and kun:koie ("ko" is on, "ie" is kun)

Each reading are existent for surname.

In additon, there are cases what are used readings that is unenrolled in regular on/kun reading table.

After all, we can't know proper reading of any person's name, unless we ask the person him/herself.

Answer 3

Usually they're written entirely in kunyomi or entirely in onyomi, rarely do the two sounds mix.

Take for instance my name, Tanaka. It's written in Kunyomi. The onyomi is Denchuu, but that isn't a name (at least I haven't heard of it).

Most Japanese names I can think of are in Kunyomi.

Who wants an onyomi surname? Chinese sounds for Japanese people?