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

Lavaka, 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 Lavaka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lavaka in America

Lavaka is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lavaka surname appeared 130 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 Lavaka.

The history of the last name Lavaka

The surname LAVAKA is believed to have originated in Madagascar, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is derived from the Malagasy word "lavaka," which means a deep erosion gully or ravine. This name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in such an area.

The earliest known record of the LAVAKA surname is found in a French colonial document from the 1820s, which mentions a man named Rakoto LAVAKA. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time among the ethnic Malagasy people.

In the late 19th century, a prominent figure named Jean LAVAKA (1858-1932) emerged as a leader in the Menalamba revolt against French colonial rule in Madagascar. He organized resistance efforts in the central highlands region before being captured and exiled to France.

Another notable individual with this surname was Andriamahefa LAVAKA (1901-1976), a Malagasy politician and independence activist. He served as a deputy in the French National Assembly and played a key role in the negotiations that led to Madagascar's independence in 1960.

During the colonial era, some Malagasy people with the LAVAKA surname may have migrated to other French territories, such as Réunion or Mauritius, where traces of the name can still be found today.

In more recent times, a prominent figure with this surname is Rija LAVAKA (born 1965), a Malagasy diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has represented his country in various international forums and organizations.

While the LAVAKA surname remains relatively uncommon outside of Madagascar, it carries a rich historical and cultural significance for the Malagasy people, reflecting their connection to the unique landscapes and struggles of their island nation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lavaka

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

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 Lavaka 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.

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

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

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