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

Leilua, 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 Leilua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leilua in America

Leilua is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leilua surname appeared 145 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 Leilua.

The history of the last name Leilua

The surname Leilua has its origins in the Samoan Islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean. It emerged in the late 18th century, derived from the Samoan words "lei" meaning "flower garland" and "lua" meaning "two" or "double." This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who wore or made double flower garlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Leilua name appears in a missionary journal from 1824, where it is mentioned as the surname of a local village chief on the island of Upolu. This entry provides a glimpse into the name's historical presence in Samoan society.

In the late 19th century, a Samoan man named Leilua Lino (1855-1928) gained prominence as a respected orator and advisor to the traditional Samoan chiefs. His oratory skills and knowledge of Samoan customs and traditions made him an influential figure during a period of significant social and political change in Samoa.

Another notable individual with the Leilua surname was Leilua Tuiasau (1876-1946), a prominent Samoan pastor and educator. He played a crucial role in establishing several Christian schools and churches throughout Samoa, contributing to the spread of education and religious teachings in the islands.

The name Leilua also appears in historical records related to land ownership and disputes in Samoa. In the early 20th century, a legal case involving a family named Leilua was documented, shedding light on traditional Samoan land tenure practices and the importance of genealogical records.

During the 20th century, the Leilua surname gained recognition beyond Samoa through individuals who achieved success in various fields. One example is Leilua Iosefa (1920-2005), a prominent Samoan artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings depicting Samoan cultural themes and motifs.

Another notable figure was Leilua Alofa (1935-2018), a respected Samoan academic and linguist who made significant contributions to the preservation and study of the Samoan language and literature. Her work helped promote and maintain Samoan cultural identity both within and outside of Samoa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leilua

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

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

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

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