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

Mataafa, 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 Mataafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mataafa in America

Mataafa is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mataafa surname appeared 106 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 Mataafa.

The history of the last name Mataafa

The surname MATAAFA originates from Samoa, an island country in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. Its roots can be traced back to the late 18th century.

MATAAFA is a Samoan name derived from the words 'mata' meaning 'eye' and 'afa' meaning 'bond' or 'connection'. It is believed to signify a strong bond or connection between individuals, possibly referring to a deep understanding or insight.

One of the earliest known references to the name MATAAFA can be found in the historical records of Samoa's royal lineage. In the late 1700s, a prominent chief named Mataafa Fiame played a significant role in the political affairs of the island nation.

During the 19th century, the MATAAFA name gained recognition through several notable figures. Mataafa Iosefo, born in 1832 and died in 1912, was a renowned Samoan chief and orator who fought against foreign intervention and advocated for Samoan independence.

Another prominent individual with the surname MATAAFA was Mataafa Mulinu'u II, born in 1909 and died in 1975. He served as the first Prime Minister of Samoa after the country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962.

The name MATAAFA also appears in historical records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Samoa was embroiled in conflicts known as the Samoan Civil Wars. Several chiefs and leaders bearing the MATAAFA name played influential roles during this turbulent period.

In more recent times, a notable figure with the MATAAFA surname was Mataafa Faumuina Liuga, born in 1921 and died in 2007. He was a prominent Samoan scholar, writer, and educator who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Samoan culture and language.

While the MATAAFA name has its roots in Samoa, it has also been adopted by individuals of Samoan descent living in other parts of the world, particularly in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mataafa

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

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

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

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