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

Katoa, 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 Katoa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Katoa in America

Katoa is the 72332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Katoa surname appeared 269 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 Katoa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Katoa 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 Katoa

The surname KATOA has its origins in the Polynesian islands, specifically in the Samoan language. It is derived from the Samoan word "katoa," which means "all" or "whole." This surname likely emerged in the late 18th or early 19th century, during the period when European explorers and missionaries began to document and record the names of Samoan individuals.

The earliest known reference to the KATOA surname can be found in the journals of Christian missionaries who visited Samoa in the early 1800s. These records often listed the names of local chiefs, elders, and other prominent individuals with whom the missionaries interacted. One such individual, Chief Katoa, was mentioned in the writings of John Williams, a British missionary who arrived in Samoa in 1830.

In the mid-19th century, the KATOA surname began to appear in official government records and census documents as the Samoan population became more integrated into the administrative systems established by colonial powers. One notable early individual with this surname was Salu Katoa, a Samoan chief and orator who played a significant role in the negotiations between Samoan leaders and European colonial authorities in the 1870s and 1880s.

As Samoans migrated to other parts of the Pacific and beyond, the KATOA surname spread to new regions. In the late 19th century, a Samoan family with the surname KATOA settled in Hawaii, where their descendants continue to reside to this day. One prominent member of this Hawaiian branch was Sione Katoa, a Samoan-Hawaiian musician and composer who was active in the early 20th century.

In the 20th century, the KATOA surname gained further recognition through the achievements of individuals in various fields. Manuao Katoa, born in 1915, was a respected Samoan educator and advocate for indigenous rights. Teuila Katoa, born in 1935, was a renowned Samoan artist and weaver whose works are held in prestigious collections around the world.

Another notable figure with the KATOA surname was Fili Katoa, a Samoan rugby player who represented his country in international competitions in the 1970s and 1980s. His son, Levi Katoa, followed in his footsteps and played professional rugby in New Zealand and Europe in the early 2000s.

While the KATOA surname originated in the Samoan islands, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or established roots in new communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the Polynesian culture and language, serving as a testament to the rich heritage and history of the Samoan people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Katoa

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

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

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

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