2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Toomalatai
A surname potentially derived from a Samoan word meaning "two chiefs" or "dual leaders."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 212 Americans carry the last name Toomalatai. That puts it at #103,399 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,616,766 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Toomalatai surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
212
1 in 1,616,766
Census rank
#103,399
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
185
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 185 bearers of the surname Toomalatai in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 103399th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Toomalatai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.1%) and White (7.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Toomalatai
The surname TOOMALATAI has its origins in Samoa, a Polynesian island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is believed to have emerged in the 18th century, derived from the Samoan words "to'o" meaning "to take" and "mala" meaning "strength" or "power." The suffix "tai" is a common ending in Samoan names, often indicating a connection to the sea or coastal regions.
This name is deeply rooted in the traditional Samoan culture, where names often carried significant meanings and were chosen to reflect the aspirations or characteristics of the individual or their family. The combination of "to'o" and "mala" suggests a name given to someone deemed strong or powerful, perhaps bestowed upon a warrior or a leader within the community.
The earliest recorded instances of the name TOOMALATAI can be traced back to the late 18th century, appearing in oral histories and genealogical records passed down through generations of Samoan families. Some of the earliest documented examples can be found in the writings of early European explorers and missionaries who visited the Samoan islands during that time.
One notable bearer of the name TOOMALATAI was a respected orator and high chief from the village of Falefa on the island of Upolu in the early 19th century. His name was TOOMALATAI Pualele, and he was known for his wisdom and oratory skills, often sought out to resolve disputes and provide counsel to the village council.
Another prominent individual was TOOMALATAI Filipo, a skilled navigator and fisherman from the village of Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila in the mid-19th century. His expertise in reading the ocean currents and stars was highly regarded, and he played a crucial role in guiding fishing expeditions and inter-island voyages.
In the late 19th century, TOOMALATAI Viliamu was a respected matai (chief) from the village of Apia on the island of Upolu. He was known for his leadership and commitment to preserving Samoan traditions and customs during a time of increasing foreign influence in the islands.
During the early 20th century, TOOMALATAI Samuela gained recognition as a talented woodcarver and tapa (bark cloth) artist from the village of Safune on the island of Savai'i. His intricate carvings and tapa designs were highly sought after and showcased the rich cultural heritage of Samoa.
In more recent times, TOOMALATAI Siamalie, born in 1942, is a renowned academic and author who has contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the Samoan language and literature. Her works have been instrumental in documenting and celebrating the rich cultural traditions of Samoa.
While the surname TOOMALATAI may not be as widely known outside of Samoa and the Polynesian region, it holds a deep significance within the Samoan culture, reflecting the values of strength, leadership, and connection to the sea that have been integral to the island's history and identity.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Toomalatai
Among Census respondents with the surname Toomalatai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.1%) and White (7.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Toomalatai bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Toomalatai surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander69.2% · 128
- Two or more races21.1% · 39
- White7.0% · 13
- Black or African American1.1% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.1% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Toomalatai
Toomalatai appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#123,796
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 139
+22 bearers (+18.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 9,318 places
2020
#103,399
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 185
+46 bearers (+33.1%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 20,397 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #123,796 | 139 | 0.05 | +22 bearers (+18.8%) | Up 9,318 places |
| 2020 | #103,399 | 185 | 0.06 | +46 bearers (+33.1%) | Up 20,397 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Toomalatai surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #123,796 | #103,399 | 16.5% |
| Count | 139 | 185 | 33.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.06 | 23.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Toomalatai bearers went from 139 to 185 (+33.1% change). The surname moved up 20,397 positions in the national ranking, going from #123,796 to #103,399.
FAQ
Toomalatai surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Toomalatai?
Name Census estimates that about 212 living Americans carry the surname Toomalatai. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,616,766 residents.
How common is Toomalatai?
Toomalatai ranks #103,399 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 185 people with the surname Toomalatai. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (212), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Toomalatai.
Has Toomalatai become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Toomalatai went from 139 recorded bearers to 185. That is an increase of 46 (+33.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #123,796 to #103,399.
What does the Census say about the background of Toomalatai?
Among Census respondents with the surname Toomalatai, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (21.1%) and White (7.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Toomalatai in the 2020 Census, accounting for 69.2% (128 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Toomalatai appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (69.2%), Two or More Races (21.1%), White (7.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Toomalatai (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Toomalatai mean?
A surname potentially derived from a Samoan word meaning "two chiefs" or "dual leaders." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Toomalatai (0.06 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Toomalatai?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Toomalatai on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.