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

Makua, 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 Makua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Makua in America

Makua is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Makua surname appeared 162 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 Makua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Makua 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 Makua

The surname MAKUA originates from the Hawaiian Islands, with the name first appearing around the 16th century. It is derived from the Hawaiian word "makua," which translates to "parent" or "ancestor." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were elders or held positions of respect within their communities.

MAKUA was a relatively common surname among the native Hawaiian population, particularly in the islands of Oahu and Maui. The name can be found in several historical records and manuscripts from the time of the Hawaiian monarchy, such as the accounts of early European explorers and missionaries who visited the islands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MAKUA can be found in the journals of Captain James Cook, the British explorer who visited the Hawaiian Islands in 1778. Cook's journals mention interactions with Hawaiian chiefs and prominent individuals, some of whom likely bore the surname MAKUA.

During the 19th century, several notable individuals with the surname MAKUA emerged in Hawaiian history. One such figure was Makua Kahili, a respected Hawaiian chief and advisor to King Kamehameha I, who played a vital role in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1800s. Another prominent MAKUA was Makua Kalani, a high-ranking member of the Hawaiian nobility in the court of King Kamehameha III, who lived from 1813 to 1854.

In the realm of Hawaiian culture and traditions, the name MAKUA was also associated with certain practices and beliefs. For instance, the term "makua kapu" referred to a sacred ritual involving the protection and veneration of ancestral spirits, which was an important aspect of Hawaiian spirituality.

Other notable individuals with the surname MAKUA include Makua Keawe, a Hawaiian scholar and historian who lived in the late 19th century and contributed to the preservation of Hawaiian language and traditions. Additionally, Makua Liliha was a renowned Hawaiian healer and practitioner of traditional medicine in the early 20th century.

While the surname MAKUA has its roots in the Hawaiian Islands, it has since been carried by individuals of Hawaiian descent to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Hawaiian communities, such as the continental United States and other Pacific islands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Makua

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

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

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

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