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

Tonasket, 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 Tonasket surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tonasket in America

Tonasket is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tonasket surname appeared 151 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 Tonasket.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tonasket 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 Tonasket

The surname Tonasket has its origins in North America, specifically in the region that is now known as Washington state. It is believed to have derived from the name of a Native American tribe, the Okanogan, who inhabited the area around the Okanogan River.

The earliest recorded use of the name Tonasket dates back to the late 18th century, when it was used to refer to a village or settlement located along the Okanogan River. This village was likely named after a prominent member of the Okanogan tribe or a local leader.

In the early 19th century, the name Tonasket began to appear in official records and documents, such as land surveys and maps, as the area became more populated by settlers and explorers. One of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Tonasket was Chief Tonasket, a leader of the Okanogan tribe who lived in the early to mid-19th century.

Another notable figure with the surname Tonasket was John Tonasket, a Native American scout and guide who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Pacific Northwest during the late 19th century. He was born around 1840 and worked with numerous expeditions and survey parties, helping to map the region and establish routes for travel and trade.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town of Tonasket, Washington was established, taking its name from the nearby river and village. This further solidified the use of the surname in the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Tonasket include:

1. Frank Tonasket (1868-1942), a Native American athlete and rodeo performer known for his skill in bronco riding and roping.
2. Mary Tonasket (1879-1961), a Native American basket weaver and artist renowned for her intricate and beautiful woven baskets.
3. Joseph Tonasket (1890-1976), a Native American writer and educator who worked to preserve the language and culture of the Okanogan tribe.
4. Alice Tonasket (1912-1998), a Native American activist and advocate for Native American rights, particularly in the areas of land rights and treaty issues.
5. Robert Tonasket (1932-2010), a Native American artist and sculptor known for his works depicting traditional Okanogan life and culture.

The surname Tonasket has remained closely tied to the Okanogan tribe and the region of Washington state where it originated. While not a widely distributed name, it holds significant cultural and historical significance for the Native American communities of the Pacific Northwest.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tonasket

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!