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

Maiava, 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 Maiava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maiava in America

Maiava is the 52169th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maiava surname appeared 398 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 Maiava.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maiava 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 Maiava

The surname MAIAVA has its origins in Samoa, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is a name that can be traced back to the 18th century or even earlier.

The name MAIAVA is derived from the Samoan language, and it is believed to have evolved from the combination of two words - "mai" meaning "to come" and "ava" meaning "passage" or "channel". Thus, the name MAIAVA could have originally referred to someone who came from a particular passage or channel, possibly a reference to a specific location or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MAIAVA can be found in the journals of Christian missionaries who visited Samoa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They documented the names of local chiefs and village leaders, some of whom bore the surname MAIAVA.

In the 19th century, a notable figure with the name MAIAVA was Chief Maiava Viliamu, who was a prominent leader in the village of Falefa on the island of Upolu. He played a significant role in the governance of his village and the surrounding areas during the tumultuous period of Samoan history marked by conflicts between various chiefs and European colonial powers.

Another historical figure with the surname MAIAVA was Maiava Ese, who was a respected orator and advisor to the Samoan king, Malietoa Laupepa, in the late 19th century. Ese was known for his wisdom and diplomacy, and he played a crucial role in mediating disputes between different factions during a time of political upheaval in Samoa.

In the early 20th century, Maiava Tusitala was a well-known Samoan writer and poet who contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of Samoan literature and cultural heritage. His works were widely acclaimed and helped to raise awareness of Samoan traditions and customs.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname MAIAVA was Maiava Iopu, a prominent Samoan athlete who excelled in rugby and represented his country in international competitions in the mid-20th century. He was known for his skill and dedication to the sport, and his achievements brought pride to Samoa.

While the surname MAIAVA is most commonly associated with Samoa, it is important to note that due to migration and the Samoan diaspora, individuals with this name can now be found in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Samoan communities such as New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maiava

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

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

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

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