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

Pahua, 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 Pahua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pahua in America

Pahua is the 54178th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pahua surname appeared 381 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 Pahua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pahua to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Pahua

The surname Pahua has its origins in the Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu. It is believed to have emerged around the 15th century, though its precise etymology is unclear. Some scholars suggest it may be derived from the Proto-Polynesian word "pahu," meaning "drum" or "to beat a drum," potentially signifying an ancestor who was a skilled drummer or musician.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pahua can be found in the oral traditions and genealogical chants of the Tuvaluan people. These ancient oral histories, passed down through generations, recount the exploits of notable individuals bearing the Pahua name, though specific dates are difficult to pinpoint.

In the 18th century, during the era of European exploration in the Pacific, the name Pahua appeared in the journals and logbooks of various navigators and sailors who visited Tuvalu. One such notable figure was Hamusu Pahua, a respected chief and navigator born around 1730, who aided European explorers in charting the islands and establishing trade relations.

As Tuvalu came under British colonial influence in the late 19th century, the name Pahua began to appear in official records and census data. One prominent individual from this period was Tamaliki Pahua (1865-1941), a paramount chief known for his diplomatic skills and efforts to preserve Tuvaluan culture and traditions.

In more recent times, the Pahua surname has spread beyond Tuvalu, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields. For example, Sioeli Pahua (1922-2008) was a renowned artist and woodcarver from Tuvalu, whose works are exhibited in museums around the world. Another notable figure is Teleke Pahua (born 1967), a Tuvaluan activist and environmentalist who has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on low-lying island nations.

While the Pahua surname may be relatively uncommon globally, it holds a rich cultural significance and a storied history rooted in the traditions and heritage of the Tuvaluan people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pahua

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

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 Pahua 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Pahua has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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