<P> Surnames occur with varying frequency in different regions; for example, the names Chinen (知念), Higa (比嘉), and Shimabukuro (島袋) are common in Okinawa but not in other parts of Japan; this is mainly due to differences between the language and culture of Yamato people and Okinawans . Many Japanese family names derive from features of the rural landscape; for example, Ishikawa (石川) means "stone river", Yamamoto (山本) means "the base of the mountain", and Inoue (井上) means "above the well". </P> <P> While family names follow relatively consistent rules, given names are much more diverse in pronunciation and character usage . While many common names can easily be spelled or pronounced, many parents choose names with unusual characters or pronunciations, and such names cannot in general be spelled or pronounced unless both the spelling and pronunciation are given . Unusual pronunciations have especially become common, with this trend having increased significantly since the 1990s . For example, the popular masculine name 大 翔 is traditionally pronounced "Hiroto", but in recent years alternative pronunciations "Haruto", "Yamato", "Taiga", "Sora", "Taito", "Daito", and "Masato" have all entered use . </P> <P> Male names often end in - rō (郎 "son", but also 朗 "clear, bright"; e.g. "Ichirō") - ta (太 "great, thick"; e.g. "Kenta") or - o (男 / 雄 / 夫 "man"; e.g. "Teruo" or "Akio"), or contain ichi (一 "first (son)"; e.g. "Ken'ichi"), kazu (also written with 一 "first (son)", along with several other possible characters; e.g. "Kazuhiro"), ji (二 "second (son)" or 次 "next"; e.g. "Jirō"), or dai (大 "great, large"; e.g. "Daiichi"). </P> <P> Female names often end in - ko (子 "child"; e.g. "Keiko") or - mi (美 "beauty"; e.g. "Yumi"). Other popular endings for female names include - ka (香 "scent, perfume" or 花 "flower"; e.g. "Reika") and - na (奈, or 菜, meaning "greens" or "apple tree"; e.g. "Haruna"). </P>

Where does the last name riggs come from