鳥居

Torii

The surname 鳥居 (Torii) is composed of two kanji characters: 鳥 (tori) meaning 'bird' and 居 (i) meaning 'to stay' or 'to reside.' Therefore, the literal translation of Torii can be interpreted as 'bird residence' or 'place where birds dwell.' Culturally, the term 'Torii' is also significant as it refers to the traditional Japanese gate that marks the entrance to a sacred space, usually found at Shinto shrines. This gate symbolizes the transition from the profane to the sacred, indicating a threshold to a holy area. While not all who bear the surname are necessarily connected to this architectural feature, the association with reverence and spirituality may impart a sense of historical significance to the name.