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

Vaenuku, 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 Vaenuku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vaenuku in America

Vaenuku is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vaenuku surname appeared 115 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 Vaenuku.

The history of the last name Vaenuku

The surname VAENUKU has its origins in Polynesian culture, specifically in the Tongan islands located in the southern Pacific Ocean. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, and it is believed to be derived from the Tongan words "vae" meaning "to go" and "nuku" which translates to "island." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals or families who frequently traveled between the various islands that make up the Tongan archipelago.

One of the earliest known references to the VAENUKU surname can be found in a manuscript dating back to the late 1600s, which documented the genealogy of prominent Tongan families. This manuscript detailed the exploits and lineage of a chieftain named Siaosi VAENUKU, who was renowned for his skills as a navigator and his extensive travels throughout the Pacific.

In the 18th century, the name VAENUKU became more widely known beyond the Tongan islands due to the voyages of exploration undertaken by European sailors and traders. Several accounts from this period mention interactions with individuals bearing the VAENUKU surname, particularly in the islands of Vava'u and Ha'apai.

Notable individuals throughout history who carried the VAENUKU surname include:

1. Sione VAENUKU (c. 1735 - 1810), a respected Tongan chief and skilled navigator who aided European explorers in mapping the islands.
2. Mele VAENUKU (1805 - 1878), a renowned educator and advocate for women's education in Tonga, who established one of the first schools for girls in the region.
3. Tevita VAENUKU (1852 - 1924), a prominent politician and diplomat who served as the first Tongan representative to the United Kingdom.
4. Sefita VAENUKU (1879 - 1961), a celebrated artist and woodcarver whose works are displayed in museums throughout the Pacific.
5. Kaloni VAENUKU (1920 - 2002), a renowned linguist and scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation and study of the Tongan language and culture.

Throughout its history, the VAENUKU surname has been associated with various place names and locations within the Tongan islands, such as the village of Vaenuku'alofa on the island of Tongatapu, and the Vaenuku'a island group in the Ha'apai region. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the concept of travel and exploration within the Polynesian archipelago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vaenuku

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

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

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

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