Find out how popular the last name Afalava is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Afalava.

Afalava, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Afalava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Afalava in America

Afalava is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Afalava surname appeared 143 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Afalava.

We can also compare 2010 data for Afalava to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Afalava

The surname Afalava is believed to have originated in the Polynesian islands, specifically in the Samoan archipelago. It is thought to have derived from the Samoan words "afa" meaning "boundary" or "limit," and "lava" meaning "rock" or "stone." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone living near a rocky boundary or stone marker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Afalava can be found in the 17th-century Samoan oral traditions, where it was mentioned in connection with a respected chief or matai from the village of Saleaula. This chief, whose name was unfortunately not preserved, was said to have played a crucial role in settling disputes over land boundaries in the region.

In the late 18th century, the name appeared in the journals of French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, who encountered several individuals bearing the surname Afalava during his voyages through the South Pacific. Bougainville's records provide valuable insights into the cultural significance and geographic distribution of the name at that time.

The 19th century saw the name Afalava spread beyond the Samoan islands, as some bearers of the name migrated to other parts of Polynesia, such as Tonga and Fiji. One notable figure from this period was Afalava Tui'one, a Tongan chief born in 1835, who played a pivotal role in negotiating treaties with European powers and preserving Tongan sovereignty.

In the early 20th century, the name gained further recognition with the exploits of Afalava Tuimanua, a renowned Samoan navigator and wayfinder who was instrumental in reviving the traditional art of non-instrument navigation across the Pacific Ocean. Born in 1905, Tuimanua's voyages and teachings have left a lasting impact on the cultural heritage of Polynesian seafaring.

Another significant bearer of the Afalava name was Afalava Tamasese, a Samoan writer and political figure who lived from 1901 to 1963. Tamasese's literary works, which explored themes of cultural identity and social change, have become influential in the study of Polynesian literature and history.

While the surname Afalava is relatively uncommon outside of Polynesia, it continues to be a source of pride and cultural significance for those who bear it, serving as a reminder of the rich traditions and history of the Samoan people and their ancestral ties to the Pacific islands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Afalava

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Afalava.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Afalava was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Afalava has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Afalava was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afalava, please contact us.

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