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

Fanene, 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 Fanene surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fanene in America

Fanene is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fanene surname appeared 215 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 Fanene.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fanene 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 Fanene

The surname Fanene has its origins in the Pacific island nation of Samoa. It is a Samoan name that emerged in the late 18th century and is derived from the Samoan words "fā" meaning "four" and "nene" meaning "chant" or "sing".

The earliest recorded instances of the Fanene surname can be traced back to villages on the island of Upolu, particularly in the region of Apia. It is believed that the name may have initially referred to a family or group with a tradition of performing chants or songs in a quartet.

In the 19th century, the Fanene surname began appearing in written records and documents kept by European missionaries and colonial administrators in Samoa. One notable early reference is in the journals of the Reverend John Bedggood, who arrived in Samoa in 1836 and documented interactions with several Fanene families.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Fanene surname was Fanene Tuiavii, a chief and orator from the village of Letogo who lived in the early to mid-1800s. He was renowned for his oratory skills and played a role in mediating conflicts between different villages and districts.

Another notable figure was Fanene Pili, born in 1845, who was a prominent matai (chief) and landowner in the village of Leulumoega. He was involved in various disputes over land boundaries and played a significant role in the village's governance during his lifetime.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the Fanene surname gained recognition as writers, educators, and political figures. This included Fanene Laupepa, born in 1875, who was a teacher and author of several books on Samoan language and culture.

Another notable individual was Fanene Salemalama, born in 1892, who served as a member of the Samoan Legislative Assembly and was actively involved in the Samoan independence movement during the early 20th century.

While the Fanene surname has its roots in Samoa, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Samoan culture and traditions of oratory, chanting, and leadership.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fanene

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

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

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

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