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

Tambunga, 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 Tambunga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tambunga in America

Tambunga is the 72105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tambunga surname appeared 270 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 Tambunga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tambunga 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 Tambunga

The surname Tambunga originates from the Philippines, specifically from the Visayan region. The name is believed to have derived from the Visayan word "tambung," which means a type of small fishing boat or canoe commonly used in coastal areas of the Visayas.

In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, many indigenous Filipinos adopted surnames based on their occupations, physical attributes, or characteristics of their immediate surroundings. The name Tambunga likely emerged as a reference to individuals or families involved in fishing or maritime activities, using the traditional "tambung" boats.

Historical records from the Visayan islands, particularly those maintained by Spanish colonial authorities and Catholic Church records, may contain some of the earliest documented instances of the surname Tambunga. However, due to the limited preservation of such records, specific references are scarce.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Tambunga was Juan Tambunga, a fisherman from the island of Cebu, who lived in the late 17th century. Local folklore suggests that he was renowned for his exceptional skills in navigating the seas and catching abundant fish using his trusty "tambung" boat.

In the 19th century, Manuel Tambunga, a prominent trader from the island of Bohol, played a significant role in the local economy by transporting goods between the Visayan islands using his fleet of small trading vessels, which included the traditional "tambung" boats.

Another notable figure with the surname Tambunga was Maria Tambunga, born in 1842 in the town of Miag-ao, Iloilo. She was recognized for her expertise in weaving intricate designs using locally sourced materials, including those derived from the leaves and fibers of the "tambung" plant, which was commonly found in coastal areas.

In the early 20th century, Pedro Tambunga, a skilled boat builder from the island of Negros, became renowned for his craftsmanship in constructing sturdy and seaworthy "tambung" boats, which were highly sought after by local fishermen and traders.

While the surname Tambunga is not among the most common Filipino surnames, it holds a unique connection to the maritime heritage and traditional boat-building practices of the Visayan region, serving as a testament to the rich cultural diversity of the Philippines.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tambunga

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

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

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

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