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

Fonua, 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 Fonua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fonua in America

Fonua is the 45105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fonua surname appeared 475 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 Fonua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fonua 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 Fonua

The surname FONUA has its origins in Tonga, a Polynesian nation in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is a family name that emerged during the 14th century, a time when Tonga was undergoing significant cultural development and social stratification.

FONUA is believed to be derived from the Tongan word "fonua," which translates to "land" or "territory." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who held significant land holdings or had a close connection to a particular area or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FONUA surname can be found in the oral histories and genealogies passed down through generations of Tongan families. These accounts mention notable individuals bearing the name, including Siosaia Fonua, a respected orator and advisor to the Tu'i Tonga (the paramount chief of Tonga) in the late 16th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as European explorers and missionaries began making contact with the Tongan archipelago, written records of the FONUA name started to emerge. Captain James Cook, in his journals from his voyages to the Pacific, documented encounters with various Tongan chiefs and leaders, some of whom likely bore the FONUA surname.

One notable figure from this period was Tuku'aho Fonua, a prominent chief from the island of Vava'u, who played a key role in the local governance and diplomacy with European visitors in the late 18th century.

As Tonga transitioned into a more centralized monarchy in the 19th century, the FONUA name continued to carry significance. Sione Fonua, born in 1825, was a respected advisor to King George Tupou I and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Tongan legal code and governance structures.

Another important figure was Sione Viliami Fonua, a renowned scholar and educator who founded the prestigious Tonga College in 1882. His contributions to the education system in Tonga were instrumental in shaping the nation's intellectual and cultural development.

In more recent times, the FONUA surname has continued to be well-represented in various fields, including politics, arts, and academia. Pesi Fonua, born in 1941, was a prominent Tongan journalist and author who documented the country's history and social issues through his writing.

It is worth noting that while the FONUA name is predominantly associated with Tonga, variations and similar spellings may exist in other Polynesian cultures, reflecting the shared linguistic and cultural roots of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fonua

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

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

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

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