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

Tanielu, 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 Tanielu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanielu in America

Tanielu is the 102197th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanielu surname appeared 176 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 Tanielu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tanielu 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 Tanielu

The surname TANIELU has its origins in the Samoan language and is believed to have first emerged in the Samoan Islands, which are located in the South Pacific Ocean. The name is derived from the Samoan words "tani" meaning "to call" and "elu" meaning "eight," suggesting a possible connection to a family or individual who may have been associated with a specific calling or occupation related to the number eight.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TANIELU surname can be traced back to the late 18th century, when it appeared in historical records from the Samoan Islands. During this period, the name was often spelled with slight variations, such as "Tanielu" or "Tanielū," reflecting the linguistic nuances of the Samoan language.

In the 19th century, the TANIELU surname gained prominence in the Samoan Islands, particularly among prominent families and chieftains. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Tanielu Tamasese, a high chief and orator who played a significant role in the political affairs of Samoa in the late 19th century.

As Samoan migration patterns expanded in the 20th century, the TANIELU surname began to appear in various parts of the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. One notable figure was Tanielu Puailoa, a Samoan rugby union player who represented Samoa at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Another prominent individual with the TANIELU surname was Tanielu Sa'ili, a Samoan politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Samoa from 1973 to 1975. He played a crucial role in strengthening Samoa's international relations and promoting economic development.

In the realm of academia, Dr. Tanielu Sua'ali'i, a Samoan scholar and professor at the University of Auckland, has made significant contributions to the fields of Pacific Studies, gender studies, and Samoan language and culture.

While the TANIELU surname may not have as extensive a historical record as some other surnames, its presence in the Samoan Islands and the significant contributions of individuals bearing this name have left an indelible mark on the cultural and sociopolitical landscape of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanielu

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

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

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

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