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

Tafuna, 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 Tafuna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tafuna in America

Tafuna is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tafuna surname appeared 119 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 Tafuna.

The history of the last name Tafuna

The surname TAFUNA is believed to have originated in the Samoan islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is a Samoan name that likely dates back to the 16th or 17th century.

TAFUNA is thought to be derived from the Samoan word "tafuna," which means "harbor" or "anchorage." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals or families who lived near a harbor or coastal area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TAFUNA can be found in the writings of Christian missionaries who visited Samoa in the early 19th century. These missionaries often documented the names of locals they encountered during their travels.

While no specific historical figures with the surname TAFUNA have been widely documented, it is a name that has been carried by many Samoans throughout the centuries. Some notable individuals include Tafuna Toalepai, a Samoan rugby player who represented his country in international competitions in the late 20th century.

Another individual with the surname TAFUNA is Uluao Tafuna, a Samoan-American author and educator who has written several books on Samoan culture and language. She was born in the 1950s and has dedicated her career to preserving and promoting Samoan heritage.

In the early 20th century, there was a village in Samoa called Tafuna, which likely took its name from the Samoan word "tafuna" and may have been home to many individuals with this surname.

Additionally, the name TAFUNA has been associated with certain place names in Samoa, such as Tafuna Tai, which means "coastal Tafuna," and Tafuna Uta, which means "inland Tafuna." These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its potential origins related to coastal or harbor areas.

It is worth noting that the surname TAFUNA is relatively uncommon outside of Samoa and Samoan communities, as it is deeply rooted in the language and culture of the Samoan islands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tafuna

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

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

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

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