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

Tatu, 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 Tatu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tatu in America

Tatu is the 73005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tatu surname appeared 266 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 Tatu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tatu 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 Tatu

The surname TATU has its origins in Finland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Finnish word "tatu," which means "a tattoo." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for an individual who had a prominent tattoo, a practice that was relatively uncommon in medieval times.

In the 15th century, records from the town of Turku, one of the oldest cities in Finland, mention individuals with the surname TATU. These early references suggest that the name was initially concentrated in the southwestern regions of the country, where Turku is located.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Jaakko TATU, a merchant and ship owner who lived in Turku during the late 16th century. His successful trading ventures and contributions to the city's maritime industry are documented in the municipal archives.

A branch of the TATU family is also recorded in the parish records of Kalanti, a rural municipality near Turku, in the 17th century. Johan TATU, born in 1632, was a farmer and landowner in Kalanti, and his descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

In the 18th century, the surname TATU spread to other parts of Finland, including the capital city of Helsinki. Notably, Matti TATU, born in 1735, was a respected craftsman and member of the city's guild of blacksmiths.

Another prominent figure was Matilda TATU, born in 1842 in Vaasa, a city on the western coast of Finland. She was a pioneering educator and one of the first women to establish a private school for girls in the country.

While the surname TATU remains relatively uncommon, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout Finnish history, from merchants and farmers to artisans and educators. The name's origins as a descriptive nickname reflect the cultural practices and traditions of medieval Finland, providing a unique insight into the country's past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tatu

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

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

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

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