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

Pulu, 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 Pulu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pulu in America

Pulu is the 64388th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pulu surname appeared 309 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 Pulu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pulu 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 Pulu

The surname PULU has its origins in the South Pacific region, specifically in the islands of Samoa and Tonga. It is believed to have emerged during the late 18th century, derived from the Samoan and Tongan word "pulu," meaning "feather" or "bird's down." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in activities or trades related to birds, such as feather workers or hunters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PULU surname can be found in the journals of European explorers who visited the Samoan Islands in the late 1700s. These accounts mention local chiefs and elders bearing the name, indicating its prominence in the region during that time period. The surname's spelling has remained relatively consistent throughout its history, with minor variations like "Puluu" or "Poulou" appearing occasionally.

In the 19th century, the PULU surname began to spread beyond its original Pacific Island homeland as Samoans and Tongans migrated to other parts of the world. Notable individuals bearing this name include Pulu Taufa'ahau, a renowned Tongan chief and politician who was instrumental in the establishment of the Kingdom of Tonga in the 1800s.

Another significant figure was Pulu Vailahi, a Samoan chief and orator who played a crucial role in the preservation of Samoan cultural traditions and the island's resistance against foreign colonization in the late 19th century.

In the early 20th century, the PULU surname gained prominence in New Zealand, where a large Samoan and Tongan diaspora had settled. One notable individual from this period was Pulu Togia, a Samoan-born rugby player who represented New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, in the 1920s.

Moving into the mid-20th century, Pulu Sogia was a prominent Tongan politician and diplomat who served as his country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

More recently, Pulu Tuiloma emerged as a celebrated artist and sculptor from Samoa, renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and contributions to the preservation of traditional Samoan art forms.

While the PULU surname has spread globally due to migration and cultural exchange, its roots remain deeply embedded in the rich history and traditions of the Samoan and Tongan Islands, where it continues to be a proud symbol of the region's cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pulu

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!