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

Tukuafu, 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 Tukuafu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tukuafu in America

Tukuafu is the 105079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tukuafu surname appeared 170 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 Tukuafu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tukuafu 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 Tukuafu

The surname TUKUAFU is of Tongan origin, tracing its roots back to the Polynesian islands of the Pacific Ocean. The name likely emerged during the 18th or 19th century, when written records of Tongan names became more prevalent.

One of the earliest known references to the name TUKUAFU can be found in the journals of British explorer James Cook, who documented his encounters with the people of Tonga during his voyages in the late 1700s. His accounts mention several individuals with variations of the name, such as Tukuafu'alu and Tukuafu'ahau.

The name TUKUAFU is believed to be derived from the Tongan words "tuku" meaning "to place" or "to put," and "afu" meaning "shelter" or "protection." Together, the name could be interpreted as "one who provides shelter" or "one who offers protection." This interpretation aligns with the traditional Tongan values of hospitality and community support.

In the 19th century, a prominent chief named Tukuafu Fīlipē (born around 1810) played a significant role in the unification of the Tongan islands under the rule of King George Tupou I. Tukuafu Fīlipē was recognized for his leadership and military prowess during this period of Tongan history.

Another notable figure with the surname TUKUAFU was Tukuafu Vaha'i (1859-1939), a Tongan noble and high chief who served as the Governor of Ha'apai, one of the island groups within the Kingdom of Tonga. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and social development in the region.

In the early 20th century, Tukuafu Saufatu (1900-1982) was a prominent Tongan scholar and educator. He played a crucial role in preserving and documenting Tongan language, culture, and traditions through his writings and teachings.

The name TUKUAFU has also been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts from the Pacific region, including genealogical records and oral traditions passed down through generations of Tongan families.

While the surname TUKUAFU is most commonly found in Tonga and among the Tongan diaspora, it has also been adopted by individuals of other Pacific Island ethnicities, reflecting the cultural exchange and intermingling that occurred throughout the region's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tukuafu

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

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

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

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