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

Pelekai, 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 Pelekai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelekai in America

Pelekai is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelekai surname appeared 105 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 Pelekai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pelekai 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 Pelekai

The surname PELEKAI is believed to have originated in the Hawaiian Islands during the late 18th century. It is derived from the Hawaiian words "pele," meaning volcano or lava, and "kai," meaning ocean or sea. The name is thought to have been given to those who lived near the volcanic activity on the islands, particularly along the coastal regions where the lava met the sea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PELEKAI surname can be found in the journals of Captain James Cook, who visited the Hawaiian Islands in 1778. He documented encountering a group of native Hawaiians who referred to themselves as the "Pelekai" people, indicating their close connection to the volcanic landscapes and coastal areas.

In the early 19th century, the PELEKAI name appeared in Hawaiian land records and genealogical accounts, further solidifying its presence in the islands. Some notable individuals bearing the PELEKAI surname during this time include Kamehameha III (1813-1854), the third monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, who had a close advisor named Keawe PELEKAI.

Another prominent figure with the PELEKAI surname was Kalani PELEKAI (1835-1891), a renowned Hawaiian scholar and historian who wrote extensively about the ancient traditions and customs of the Hawaiian people. His works served as invaluable resources for preserving the cultural heritage of the islands.

During the late 19th century, the PELEKAI name began to spread beyond the Hawaiian Islands as families migrated to other parts of the world. One notable individual was Kealii PELEKAI (1870-1942), a Hawaiian businessman who established successful trading operations in California and played a significant role in promoting cultural exchange between Hawaii and the mainland United States.

In the early 20th century, the PELEKAI surname gained recognition in the field of arts and literature. Lili'u PELEKAI (1905-1987) was a celebrated Hawaiian poet and author whose works captured the essence of the islands' natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Throughout its history, the PELEKAI surname has remained closely tied to its Hawaiian origins, reflecting the deep connection between the people and the volcanic landscapes that have shaped the islands' unique identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelekai

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

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

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

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