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

Samoa, 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 Samoa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samoa in America

Samoa is the 111426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samoa surname appeared 158 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 Samoa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samoa 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 Samoa

The surname Samoa originated from the Pacific island country of Samoa, which was formerly known as the Navigators Islands. The name is derived from the Samoan language, with the word "samoa" meaning "sacred earth" or "sacred place." This reflects the deep cultural and spiritual connection the Samoan people have with their land and environment.

The earliest known use of Samoa as a surname can be traced back to the late 18th century when European explorers and missionaries began arriving in the Samoan islands. As these visitors interacted with the local population, they would often record the names of Samoan individuals, including their surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Samoa appears in the journals of French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, who visited the islands in 1768. He documented the name of a chief he encountered as "Samoa Solofa."

In the 19th century, as Western influence and colonization increased in the region, the use of surnames became more widespread among the Samoan people. Many adopted the name Samoa as a way to identify their cultural heritage and connection to their homeland.

Notable individuals who have carried the surname Samoa throughout history include:

1. Samoa Tui (c. 1830-1900), a prominent Samoan chief and leader during the late 19th century.
2. Samoa Fa'asiu (1867-1942), a Samoan politician and advocate for Samoan independence.
3. Samoa Tupua (1892-1961), a Samoan leader and warrior who fought against colonial rule.
4. Samoa Misaalefua (1904-1987), a Samoan writer and educator who played a significant role in preserving Samoan language and culture.
5. Samoa Avaolela (1920-2003), a Samoan artist and sculptor renowned for his traditional wood carvings and tapa cloth designs.

While the surname Samoa is most closely associated with the Samoan people and their homeland, it has also been adopted by individuals of other Pacific Island descent, as well as those who have lived or have a connection to the Samoan islands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samoa

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

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

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

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