2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Lauaki
A Samoan surname referring to one from the village of Lauaki.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 132 Americans carry the last name Lauaki. That puts it at #145,757 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,596,624 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lauaki 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
132
1 in 2,596,624
Census rank
#145,757
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
115
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 115 bearers of the surname Lauaki in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145757th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (19.1%) and White (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lauaki
The surname LAUAKI is of Polynesian origin, specifically from the Samoan language and culture. It is believed to have originated in the islands of Samoa, likely during the 18th or 19th century.
The name LAUAKI is derived from the Samoan words "lau," meaning "leaf," and "aki," meaning "to spread or scatter." It is possible that the name was initially given to an individual or family associated with the cultivation or harvesting of certain plants or crops, specifically those with distinctive leaf patterns or shapes.
While there are no recorded instances of the name appearing in ancient manuscripts or historical records, it is worth noting that many Polynesian surnames were not formally documented until the arrival of European explorers and missionaries in the region.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname LAUAKI was Tuiavii Lauaki, a prominent Samoan chief and orator who lived in the late 19th century. He was renowned for his eloquence and leadership during a period of significant cultural and political change in Samoa.
Another notable figure was Pualoa Lauaki, a revered Samoan healer and traditional medicine practitioner who lived in the early 20th century. Her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and healing practices was widely respected throughout the Samoan islands.
In more recent times, Tala Lauaki gained recognition as a skilled wood carver and artist, preserving and promoting traditional Samoan art forms through his intricate and detailed works.
Faalua Lauaki was a respected educator and advocate for Samoan language and culture. She dedicated her career to teaching and preserving the rich heritage of her people, ensuring that the Samoan language and traditions were passed down to future generations.
Lastly, Sione Lauaki was a prominent Samoan rugby player who represented his country at the highest level. His exceptional skills and dedication to the sport earned him recognition and respect both within Samoa and internationally.
It is important to note that while these individuals represent notable examples of the surname LAUAKI, the name itself has deep roots in Samoan culture and likely has a much broader history and significance within the Polynesian community.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lauaki
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (19.1%) and White (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Lauaki 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 Lauaki surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander77.4% · 89
- Two or more races19.1% · 22
- White2.6% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lauaki
Lauaki 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
#145,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,616 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #145,757 | 115 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 1,616 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 Lauaki 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 | #144,141 | #145,757 | -1.1% |
| Count | 115 | 115 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lauaki bearers went from 115 to 115 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 1,616 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #145,757.
FAQ
Lauaki surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lauaki?
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the surname Lauaki. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,596,624 residents.
How common is Lauaki?
Lauaki ranks #145,757 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 115 people with the surname Lauaki. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (132), 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 Lauaki.
Has Lauaki become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lauaki went from 115 recorded bearers to 115. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #145,757.
What does the Census say about the background of Lauaki?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauaki, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 77.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (19.1%) and White (2.6%). 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 Lauaki in the 2020 Census, accounting for 77.4% (89 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lauaki appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (77.4%), Two or More Races (19.1%), White (2.6%). 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 Lauaki (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 Lauaki mean?
A Samoan surname referring to one from the village of Lauaki. 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 Lauaki (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 have the last name Lauaki?
If you just want to know how many people are called Lauaki, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.