2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Fetui
A Polynesian surname derived from the Samoan word for "star" or "constellation".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Fetui. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fetui surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Fetui in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fetui, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 55.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.8%) and Two or More Races (15.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fetui
The surname FETUI has its origins in the Pacific Islands, particularly in the Samoan archipelago. It likely emerged sometime in the 16th or 17th century, derived from the Samoan word "fetui" which translates to "star" or "celestial body." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with a bright or shining personality, or perhaps someone born under a significant celestial event.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the oral histories and genealogical records maintained by Samoan chiefs and orators. These records, passed down through generations, often served as a way to preserve the lineages and legacy of prominent families and individuals.
In the late 18th century, the name FETUI appears in some of the earliest written accounts of Samoan culture and society by European explorers and missionaries. One notable example is the journals of French explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who visited the Samoan Islands in 1787 and documented his encounters with the local population.
During the 19th century, as Samoa became more integrated into the global community, the name FETUI began to appear in official records and documents. One notable figure from this period was Fetui Mata'afa, a prominent Samoan chief and political leader who played a key role in the Samoan struggle for independence in the late 19th century.
Another noteworthy individual was Fetui Tuiasosopo, a Samoan scholar and linguist born in 1887. Tuiasosopo made significant contributions to the preservation and documentation of the Samoan language and culture, publishing numerous works on Samoan grammar, literature, and history.
In the 20th century, the name FETUI continued to be associated with influential figures in Samoa and the broader Pacific region. One such individual was Fetui Pula, a Samoan artist and sculptor born in 1923, whose works celebrated and showcased traditional Samoan motifs and styles.
Additionally, Fetui Tamasese, born in 1940, was a prominent Samoan academic and author who served as the Head of State of Samoa from 2007 to 2017. His works focused on Pacific studies, indigenous knowledge systems, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
While the name FETUI may have evolved and taken on different spellings or variations over time, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Samoan people, serving as a reminder of the enduring connections between language, identity, and the natural world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fetui
Among Census respondents with the surname Fetui, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 55.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.8%) and Two or More Races (15.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Fetui bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Fetui surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander55.1% · 59
- Hispanic or Latino17.8% · 19
- Two or more races15.9% · 17
- White9.3% · 10
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fetui
Fetui appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+6 bearers (+5.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,073 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.9%) | Up 8,073 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Fetui surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #159,712 | #151,639 | 5.1% |
| Count | 101 | 107 | 5.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 19.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fetui bearers went from 101 to 107 (+5.9% change). The surname moved up 8,073 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #151,639.
FAQ
Fetui surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fetui?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Fetui. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Fetui?
Fetui ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Fetui. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Fetui.
Has Fetui become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fetui went from 101 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 6 (+5.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Fetui?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fetui, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 55.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (17.8%) and Two or More Races (15.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fetui in the 2020 Census, accounting for 55.1% (59 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fetui appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (55.1%), Hispanic (17.8%), Two or More Races (15.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Fetui (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Fetui mean?
A Polynesian surname derived from the Samoan word for "star" or "constellation". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Fetui (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Fetui?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Fetui on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.