2010
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kainoa
Hawaiian surname meaning "the free one" or "free ocean."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Kainoa. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kainoa 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Kainoa in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kainoa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (25.8%) and Hispanic (17.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kainoa
The surname KAINOA is of Hawaiian origin, with its roots traced back to the ancient Polynesian language spoken by the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands. This name is believed to have emerged during the pre-colonial era, before the arrival of European explorers and settlers in the late 18th century.
KAINOA is derived from the combination of two Hawaiian words - "kai," meaning sea or ocean, and "noa," which signifies freedom, liberation, or a state of being free from taboos or restrictions. The name can be interpreted as "free as the sea" or "unrestrained as the ocean," reflecting the deep connection the Hawaiian people have with the vast waters that surround their island home.
While there are no known historical records or manuscripts that specifically mention the surname KAINOA from ancient times, it is likely that the name was initially used as a personal name or a descriptive title, given to individuals who embodied the qualities of freedom and an affinity with the sea.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KAINOA can be found in the oral traditions and chants of the Hawaiian people, which were passed down through generations. These chants often celebrated the exploits of legendary figures, such as navigators, warriors, and chieftains, some of whom may have borne the name KAINOA.
Notable individuals who carried the surname KAINOA include:
1. Kainoa Ahuna (1883-1962), a renowned Hawaiian waterman and surfer who was instrumental in reviving and promoting the sport of surfing in the early 20th century.
2. Kainoa McGee (born 1978), a Hawaiian artist and painter known for his vibrant depictions of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands.
3. Kainoa Nunies (born 1985), a professional football player who played as a defensive end for various teams in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
4. Kainoa Skelton (born 1992), a Hawaiian-born professional mixed martial artist who has competed in various promotions, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
5. Kainoa Ramsy (born 1973), a Hawaiian musician and composer known for his work in preserving and promoting the traditional music and chants of the Hawaiian people.
While the surname KAINOA may not be as widely known or documented as some other Hawaiian names, it holds a special significance for the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands, serving as a reminder of their deep-rooted connection to the sea and their embrace of freedom and liberation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kainoa
Among Census respondents with the surname Kainoa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (25.8%) and Hispanic (17.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Kainoa 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 Kainoa surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander43.3% · 52
- Two or more races25.8% · 31
- Hispanic or Latino17.5% · 21
- White11.7% · 14
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kainoa
Kainoa 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
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-2 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,722 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 4,722 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 Kainoa 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 | #137,327 | #142,049 | -3.4% |
| Count | 122 | 120 | -1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kainoa bearers went from 122 to 120 (-1.6% change). The surname moved down 4,722 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #142,049.
FAQ
Kainoa surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kainoa?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Kainoa. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Kainoa?
Kainoa ranks #142,049 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 120 people with the surname Kainoa. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), 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 Kainoa.
Has Kainoa become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kainoa went from 122 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 2 (-1.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Kainoa?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kainoa, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 43.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (25.8%) and Hispanic (17.5%). 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 Kainoa in the 2020 Census, accounting for 43.3% (52 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kainoa appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (43.3%), Two or More Races (25.8%), Hispanic (17.5%). 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 Kainoa (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 Kainoa mean?
Hawaiian surname meaning "the free one" or "free ocean." 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 Kainoa (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 common is the surname Kainoa?
Want to know how many people have the surname Kainoa? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.