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

Mafnas, 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 Mafnas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mafnas in America

Mafnas is the 73005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mafnas surname appeared 266 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 Mafnas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mafnas 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 Mafnas

The surname Mafnas is believed to have originated from the Mariana Islands, an archipelago located in the western Pacific Ocean. This name is thought to have roots in the indigenous Chamorro language spoken by the native inhabitants of these islands.

Mafnas is likely derived from the Chamorro word "mafnas," which translates to "skillful" or "adept." This suggests that the surname may have been initially assigned to individuals who possessed exceptional skills or craftsmanship in a particular trade or profession.

The earliest known records of the Mafnas surname can be traced back to the 17th century, during the Spanish colonial period in the Mariana Islands. Historical documents from this era, such as church records and land deeds, often mention individuals bearing this surname.

One notable example is Juan Mafnas, a Chamorro chief who lived in the late 17th century and played a significant role in resisting Spanish colonization efforts. His defiance against the colonial authorities made him a revered figure in the history of the Mariana Islands.

In the 18th century, the Mafnas surname appeared in various documents related to the administration of the Mariana Islands by the Spanish colonial government. For instance, Pedro Mafnas served as a government official and landowner during this period.

As the Chamorro people migrated and settled in other parts of the Pacific, the Mafnas surname spread beyond the Mariana Islands. In the 19th century, individuals with this surname could be found in places like Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

One prominent figure with the Mafnas surname was Antonio Mafnas, a renowned navigator and seafarer from the island of Rota, who lived in the late 19th century. His extraordinary skills in traditional Chamorro navigation techniques earned him widespread respect among his people.

Another notable individual was Maria Mafnas, a Chamorro educator who played a crucial role in preserving the Chamorro language and culture in the early 20th century. Her efforts to establish Chamorro language schools and promote cultural awareness left a lasting impact on the community.

Throughout the 20th century, the Mafnas surname continued to be prevalent among the Chamorro people, both in the Mariana Islands and in diasporic communities around the world. Individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, education, and community service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mafnas

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

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

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

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