inou

Inou is a surname of possible Japanese origin. In many contexts, the more common romanization of the well-known Japanese surname written with the kanji 井上 is Inoue; Inou appears as a less frequent variant in some transliteration schemes or personal spellings. Because Japanese long vowels can be rendered in different ways, and because individuals or families may adopt nonstandard spellings, Inou can occur as an alternate rendering in English-language texts.

As a result, Inou may be encountered as a family name in historical records, genealogical documents, or personal name spellings outside of Japan. However, it is considerably rarer than Inoue and does not have a distinct, widely recognized meaning or origin beyond being a surname variant. There are no widely cited, unique definitions or uses of the term beyond its role as a name.

Inou can also appear when records from different transliteration systems converge on the same spelling, or when non-Japanese authors adopt simplified spellings for ease of pronunciation. Because the exact reading and origin can vary with context, users encountering the term should consider accompanying information—such as language, region, or script—to determine whether Inou represents a Japanese surname variant or a nonstandard spelling.

See also: Inoue, a more common romanization of the same kanji family name.