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

Tumanuvao, 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 Tumanuvao surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tumanuvao in America

Tumanuvao is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tumanuvao surname appeared 106 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 Tumanuvao.

The history of the last name Tumanuvao

The surname TUMANUVAO has its origins in the Samoan Islands, a part of the Polynesian cultural region located in the Pacific Ocean. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century, derived from the Samoan words "tuma" meaning "to cut" and "nuvao" meaning "bush" or "shrub," suggesting a possible connection to activities related to clearing land or vegetation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TUMANUVAO can be found in the genealogical records maintained by the paramount chiefs of the island of Savai'i. These records, dating back to the late 17th century, mention a notable family bearing this surname and their involvement in local disputes over land and resources.

In the 18th century, the TUMANUVAO name gained prominence when Tumanuvao Tamasoalii, a skilled navigator and warrior, played a significant role in the unification of the Samoan islands under the rule of the Malietoa dynasty. His descendants continued to hold positions of influence within the traditional Samoan chiefly system.

During the 19th century, as European explorers and missionaries began to document the cultures of the Pacific, several accounts mention individuals with the surname TUMANUVAO. One such example is Tumanuvao Lauati, a respected orator and advisor to the high chiefs, who was born in 1810 and lived until the late 1800s.

Another notable figure was Tumanuvao Faleupolu, a prominent figure in the Samoan resistance against the colonial powers in the late 19th century. He was born in 1845 and played a crucial role in the Samoan Uprising of 1889, defending the traditional way of life and autonomy of the Samoan people.

In the early 20th century, Tumanuvao Taua'a, a skilled navigator and fisherman, gained recognition for his expertise in traditional Samoan maritime practices and his efforts to preserve this knowledge for future generations. He lived from 1880 to 1968 and was highly respected within his community.

Throughout its history, the surname TUMANUVAO has been associated with individuals who have upheld traditional Samoan values, contributed to the preservation of cultural practices, and played significant roles in shaping the islands' history and identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tumanuvao

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

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 Tumanuvao 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.

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

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

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