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

Ofa, 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 Ofa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ofa in America

Ofa is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ofa surname appeared 101 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 Ofa.

The history of the last name Ofa

The surname Ofa has its origins in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. It is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century, derived from the Tongan word "ofa," which means "love" or "affection." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term or nickname given to someone who was known for their kind and loving nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ofa can be found in the genealogical records of the Tongan royal family. These records mention an individual named Ofa Tuihalangamoetaumafa, who lived in the late 17th century and was a chief of the village of Houma on the island of Tongatapu.

In the 19th century, the name Ofa appeared in various historical documents and records related to the Kingdom of Tonga. For example, Ofa Kilimoetouetonga was a prominent chief who played a significant role in the conversion of Tonga to Christianity in the 1830s.

Another notable figure with the surname Ofa was Ofa Paulsen (1830-1899), a Tongan chief and entrepreneur who helped establish commercial trade between Tonga and other Pacific islands. He was also instrumental in the development of Tonga's export economy, particularly in the areas of coconut oil and copra production.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Ofa began to spread beyond Tonga as Tongan communities emigrated to other parts of the Pacific and beyond. For instance, Ofa Swann (1886-1963) was a prominent Tongan-American businessman and community leader who settled in San Francisco, California, and played a key role in establishing the Tongan community there.

In more recent times, the name Ofa has been carried by individuals such as Ofa Tuungafasi (born 1992), a professional rugby player who has represented Tonga and New Zealand at the international level. Another notable figure is Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki (born 1969), a Tongan-New Zealand writer and academic who has authored several books and articles on Pacific literature and culture.

While the surname Ofa may not be as widely recognized as some other surnames, it has a rich history and cultural significance that is deeply rooted in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. Its meaning of "love" or "affection" reflects the warmth and hospitality that is often associated with Tongan culture and its people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ofa

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

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

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

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