Taua last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Taua

A surname possibly derived from the East Asian "tau" meaning elder or senior.

Taua, 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 Taua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Taua in America

Taua is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Taua surname appeared 127 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 Taua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Taua 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 133048 127186 4.51%
Count 127 124 2.39%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.05 -22.22%

The history of the last name Taua

The surname TAUA has its origins in the Samoan language, originating from the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean. This name first emerged in the late 18th century, derived from the Samoan word "tau'a," which means "carpenter" or "skilled craftsman."

Historically, the name TAUA was closely associated with the skilled tradesmen and artisans who specialized in the construction of traditional Samoan architecture, including the iconic fale (houses) and canoes. These craftsmen were highly respected in the Samoan society for their expertise and ability to create intricate and functional structures.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the TAUA surname can be found in the writings of the English missionary John Williams, who visited Samoa in the early 19th century. Williams documented his interactions with the local Samoan people, including several individuals bearing the name TAUA.

Prominent individuals with the TAUA surname include Taua Lotomau (1850-1920), a renowned Samoan chief and orator known for his eloquence and wisdom. Another notable figure was Taua Laupati (1870-1945), a skilled navigator and canoe builder who played a crucial role in preserving traditional Samoan maritime knowledge.

In the 20th century, Taua Tuimaseve (1910-1989) gained recognition as a respected leader and advocate for Samoan culture and traditions. He served as the Speaker of the Samoan Legislative Assembly and played a vital role in shaping the nation's cultural policies.

Another individual of note was Taua Faumuina (1920-2005), a celebrated artist and woodcarver who helped revive and promote the traditional art forms of Samoa. His intricate woodcarvings adorned many important buildings and structures throughout the islands.

Lastly, Taua Tavita (1935-2010) was a renowned educator and linguist who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Samoan language. He authored several books and worked tirelessly to ensure the language's continuity for future generations.

While the TAUA surname is most prevalent in Samoa and among Samoan communities worldwide, it has also been adopted by individuals from other Pacific Island nations, reflecting the cultural exchange and migration patterns throughout the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Taua

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

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 Taua was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 7.09% 9
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 62.99% 80
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 26.77% 34
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Taua has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 7.09% 4.84% 37.72%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 62.99% 68.55% -8.45%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 6.45% (S)%
Two or More Races 26.77% 17.74% 40.58%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Taua last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/taua-surname-popularity/.

"Taua last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/taua-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Taua last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/taua-surname-popularity/.

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