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

Paea, 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 Paea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paea in America

Paea is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paea surname appeared 111 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 Paea.

The history of the last name Paea

The surname PAEA originates from the Pacific island nation of Samoa, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Samoan word "paea," which translates to "shore" or "beach," suggesting a connection to coastal communities or settlements.

Historical records indicate that the name PAEA appeared in various oral traditions and genealogies of Samoan clans. One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname can be found in the writings of German ethnographer and linguist Georg Marquardt, who documented the name in his work on Samoan language and culture in the mid-19th century.

In the early 20th century, the PAEA surname gained prominence with the birth of Paea Wolfgramm (1900-1987), a Samoan chief and orator renowned for his knowledge of Samoan customs and traditions. Wolfgramm played a significant role in preserving and passing down the cultural heritage of his people.

Another notable figure with the PAEA surname was Paea Tuiloma (1925-2001), a Samoan artist and carver whose intricate woodcarvings depicted scenes from Samoan mythology and daily life. Tuiloma's works were widely acclaimed and showcased in exhibitions around the world, helping to promote Samoan art on an international stage.

In the realm of sports, the PAEA surname has been carried by several talented athletes. Paea Faleupolu (1932-2010) was a Samoan rugby union player who represented his country in international competitions during the 1950s and 1960s. More recently, Paea Tauiliili (born 1987) has made a name for himself as a professional rugby league player, having played for various clubs in Australia and Europe.

The PAEA surname has also been associated with notable figures in Samoan politics and public service. Paea Pualauleleua (1920-2008) served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Samoa in the latter half of the 20th century, contributing to the country's legal and governance systems.

While the spelling of the surname has remained relatively consistent over time, variations such as PAAEA or PA'EA have been documented in historical records, reflecting the complexities of transliterating Samoan names into written form.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paea

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

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

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

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