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

Fatu, 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 Fatu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fatu in America

Fatu is the 101247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fatu surname appeared 178 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 Fatu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fatu 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 Fatu

The surname FATU originated in the Pacific Islands, particularly in the Samoan Islands. Its roots can be traced back to the late 18th century, derived from the Samoan word "fatu," which means "rock" or "stone." This connection to the natural elements suggests that the name may have been initially associated with those who lived near rocky terrain or were involved in stonework or quarrying activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FATU surname can be found in the archives of the London Missionary Society, which documented the conversion of Samoans to Christianity in the early 19th century. A notable figure bearing this name was Malietoa Fatu, a high chief who played a crucial role in the establishment of Christianity in Samoa during the 1830s.

In the late 19th century, the FATU surname appeared in genealogical records of Samoan families who migrated to other parts of the Pacific, such as Hawaii and New Zealand. One prominent individual from this era was Sione Fatu, a Samoan-born businessman who established a successful trading company in Honolulu in the 1870s.

As Samoans began to settle in other parts of the world, the FATU surname spread further. In the early 20th century, several members of the FATU family were born in California, including Tuitele Fatu (1901-1987), who became a respected community leader in Los Angeles.

Another notable figure was Malia Fatu (1920-2008), a Samoan academic and author who published extensively on Samoan culture and traditions. Her works served as important resources for preserving and promoting Samoan heritage.

Throughout the 20th century, the FATU surname continued to be carried by individuals of Samoan descent across various parts of the world. Some examples include Palaita Fatu (1932-2012), a renowned Samoan artist and sculptor based in New Zealand, and Tautai Fatu (1945-2021), a celebrated Samoan musician and composer who helped popularize traditional Samoan music on an international scale.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fatu

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

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

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

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