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

Suaava, 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 Suaava surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Suaava in America

Suaava is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Suaava surname appeared 106 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 Suaava.

The history of the last name Suaava

The surname SUAAVA originates from the island nation of Fiji in the South Pacific. Its roots can be traced back to the 16th century when the region was inhabited by various Polynesian and Melanesian tribes. The name is believed to have been derived from the Fijian word 'suava', meaning 'strong' or 'resilient', likely referring to the physical or spiritual qualities of the original bearer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SUAAVA can be found in the oral traditions and chants of the Lauan Islands, a small group of islands within the Fijian archipelago. These ancient songs and stories often celebrated the exploits of warriors and chiefs, suggesting that the original bearer of the name SUAAVA may have been a prominent figure in the local community.

During the 17th century, when European explorers began to venture into the Pacific, the name SUAAVA appeared in the logs and journals of Dutch and British sailors. One such reference is found in the journal of Captain James Cook, who encountered a chief named Suaava during his voyage through the Fijian Islands in 1774.

In the 19th century, as Christian missionaries began to establish themselves in the region, they recorded the names of local inhabitants in their baptismal records. One such record, from the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in Levuka, Fiji, lists a man named Ratu Suaava who was baptized in 1854.

Notable individuals with the surname SUAAVA include:

1. Mereoni Suaava (c. 1820 - 1890), a renowned Fijian fisherwoman and navigator who was celebrated for her vast knowledge of the oceanic currents and weather patterns of the region.

2. Joeli Suaava (1901 - 1978), a Fijian chief and political leader who played a pivotal role in the negotiations for Fijian independence from British rule in the 1960s.

3. Alisi Suaava (1926 - 2012), a Fijian artist and sculptor whose works depicted the rich cultural traditions and legends of the Fijian people.

4. Tevita Suaava (1941 - 2005), a Fijian rugby union player who represented his country in the 1960s and was renowned for his powerful running and tackling abilities.

5. Litiana Suaava (b. 1982), a contemporary Fijian author and poet whose works explore themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by indigenous communities in the modern world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Suaava

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

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

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

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