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

Onefeather, 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 Onefeather surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onefeather in America

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

The Onefeather 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 Onefeather.

The history of the last name Onefeather

The surname Onefeather is believed to have originated in the Native American tribes of North America, particularly among the Cherokee and Choctaw nations. The name itself is an anglicized version of a Choctaw word meaning "one who carries a feather" or "feather bearer."

In the early days of European colonization, it was common for Native Americans to adopt anglicized versions of their names to better assimilate into the new society. The Onefeather name likely emerged during this period as a way to preserve a part of the individual's cultural heritage while adapting to the new linguistic norms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Onefeather name can be found in the records of the Cherokee Nation in the late 18th century. A man named Tsi-yu Onefeather was listed as a respected elder and member of the Cherokee Council in the 1790s.

Another notable individual with the Onefeather surname was Sequoyah Onefeather, a Cherokee scholar and linguist who lived from 1770 to 1843. He is best known for creating the Cherokee syllabary, a writing system that helped preserve the Cherokee language and promote literacy among his people.

In the 19th century, the Onefeather name appeared in various records and historical accounts related to the forced relocation of Native American tribes, known as the Trail of Tears. Benjamin Onefeather, a Choctaw chief who lived from 1798 to 1865, was one of the leaders who fought against the removal but was ultimately forced to lead his people on the grueling journey westward.

During the same period, a woman named Ahyoka Onefeather (1800-1880) gained recognition for her role as a respected medicine woman and healer among the Choctaw people. Her knowledge of traditional herbal remedies and healing practices was widely sought after by her community.

In more recent times, the Onefeather name has been carried on by notable figures such as John Onefeather (1921-2003), a prominent artist and sculptor from the Choctaw Nation, whose works celebrated the richness of Native American culture and traditions.

While the Onefeather surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has come to represent the resilience, strength, and cultural pride of the Native American communities that have carried it through generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onefeather

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

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

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

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