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

Finau, 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 Finau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Finau in America

Finau is the 29878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Finau surname appeared 786 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 Finau.

We can also compare 2010 data for Finau 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 Finau

The surname FINAU is of Tongan origin, tracing its roots back to the Polynesian islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th or 16th century, when the Tongan people had established their distinct culture and language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FINAU can be found in the oral traditions and genealogical records of the Tongan nobility. It is said that a high-ranking chief named Finau Ulukalala lived during the late 16th century and was renowned for his leadership and military prowess. His descendants carried on the name FINAU, solidifying its place in Tongan history.

The name FINAU is thought to be derived from the Tongan words "fina" meaning "to be beautiful or attractive" and "au" meaning "mine or belonging to me." This suggests that the name may have originally signified a person of remarkable beauty or attractiveness, perhaps referring to physical appearance or personal qualities.

In the 18th century, the name FINAU gained prominence with the rise of the Tu'i Tonga dynasty, one of the most influential ruling families in Tonga's history. Notable figures from this era include Finau Filipe, a powerful chief who lived from 1725 to 1784, and Finau Ulukalala II, who ruled as the Tu'i Tonga from 1770 to 1793.

As Tonga's connections with the wider world grew, the name FINAU began to appear in European records and accounts. Captain James Cook, the famous British explorer, mentioned a chief named Finau in his journals during his voyage to the Pacific in 1777.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, several prominent individuals bore the FINAU surname. Finau 'Ulukalala III was a respected chief and orator who lived from 1835 to 1910. Sione Finau Mā'atu, born in 1888, was a notable politician and member of the Tongan Parliament.

In more recent times, the name FINAU has continued to be carried by influential figures in Tongan society. Sione Ngū Finau, born in 1933, was a distinguished academic and linguist who made significant contributions to the preservation of the Tongan language and culture.

Overall, the surname FINAU holds a rich historical legacy in Tonga, representing the island nation's cultural traditions, nobility, and enduring presence in the Pacific region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Finau

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

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

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

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