Nishimura

由来と歴史

Nishimura means 'west village' (西村) and is a topographic surname for families in the western part of a settlement or western-facing village. Directional village names (east, west, north, south) were common ways of distinguishing neighboring communities in Japan. The surname is associated with the scholar Nishimura Shigeki, a prominent Meiji-era educator. It is most prevalent in Osaka, Hyogo, and Aichi prefectures.