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

Matavao, 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 Matavao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matavao in America

Matavao is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matavao surname appeared 109 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 Matavao.

The history of the last name Matavao

The surname MATAVAO originated in the Polynesian islands, specifically in the Samoan archipelago. It dates back to the 16th century and is derived from the Samoan words "mata" meaning "eye" and "vao" meaning "forest" or "wild," suggesting a connection to a person with keen vision or someone who lived in the wilderness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MATAVAO can be found in the oral traditions and genealogies of the Samoan people. It was mentioned in the historical accounts of the chieftain lineages, particularly those from the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

In the 18th century, the name MATAVAO appeared in the records of European explorers and missionaries who visited the Samoan islands. Captain James Cook, in his journals from his voyages to the Pacific, documented several encounters with individuals bearing this surname.

A notable figure with the surname MATAVAO was Tui Matavao, a high chief and leader of the village of Falealili on the island of Upolu in the early 19th century. He played a significant role in the political and social affairs of the region during that time.

Another prominent individual was Matavao Tofaeono, a Samoan scholar and linguist born in 1875. He contributed greatly to the preservation and study of the Samoan language and culture through his writings and teachings.

In the 20th century, Matavao Lefao (1905-1992) gained recognition as a skilled navigator and wayfinder, upholding the traditional voyaging practices of the Samoan people. His knowledge and expertise were invaluable in reviving and maintaining the art of non-instrument navigation in the Pacific.

The name MATAVAO has also been associated with several place names in Samoa, such as the village of Matavao on the island of Upolu and the Matavao River, reflecting the historical presence and influence of this surname in various locations across the archipelago.

While the surname MATAVAO is most prevalent in Samoa and among the Samoan diaspora, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of Polynesia, reflecting the cultural and historical connections among the Pacific island nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matavao

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

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

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

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