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

Datu, 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 Datu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Datu in America

Datu is the 47791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Datu surname appeared 443 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 Datu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Datu 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 Datu

The surname DATU is of Filipino origin, deriving from the titular honorific "Datu" which refers to a ruler or sovereign prince of a territory or ethnic group in the pre-colonial Philippines. The term itself is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "Datuh" or "Dator", meaning "giver" or "donor".

In the traditional Filipino social hierarchy, Datus were considered nobility and held significant power and influence over their respective domains. They were responsible for governing their communities, administering justice, and leading their people in times of conflict or war.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DATU can be traced back to the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Spanish documents and records from this period often mentioned the names of local Datus who interacted with or resisted the colonial authorities.

One notable early bearer of the DATU surname was Datu Puti, a renowned leader of the Butuanon people from the island of Mindanao. He is remembered for his resistance against the Spanish colonizers in the late 16th century, leading a series of battles and uprisings to defend his people's lands and way of life.

Another prominent figure was Datu Bago, a revered leader of the Maguindanao Sultanate in the 17th century. He played a crucial role in the establishment and expansion of the Sultanate, which became one of the most powerful Islamic kingdoms in the southern Philippines during that era.

In the 18th century, Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain from the island of Bohol, gained historical significance for his peaceful negotiations and blood compact with Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565. This event is widely regarded as a symbolic gesture of friendship and alliance between the indigenous Filipinos and the Spanish colonizers.

Another notable bearer of the DATU surname was Datu Utto, a prominent leader of the Tausug people in the southern Philippines during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to maintain the sovereignty and independence of his people against foreign powers.

In the 19th century, Datu Piang, a respected leader of the Maranao people in Mindanao, gained recognition for his efforts in preserving the cultural traditions and way of life of his people amidst the growing influence of colonialism and modernization.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Datu

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

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 Datu 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 Datu 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 Datu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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