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

Wauneka, 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 Wauneka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wauneka in America

Wauneka is the 37646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wauneka surname appeared 591 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 Wauneka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wauneka 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 Wauneka

The surname WAUNEKA originated from the Navajo Nation, a Native American territory located in the southwestern United States. It is a Navajo name, and its roots can be traced back to the early 19th century.

The name WAUNEKA is derived from the Navajo word "wóóneekà," which means "one who wanders around." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who traveled extensively or led a nomadic lifestyle within the Navajo Nation.

One of the earliest known references to the name WAUNEKA can be found in historical records from the late 1800s. These records document the life of Annie Wauneka, a prominent Navajo leader and activist born in 1910. She played a crucial role in promoting education and healthcare within the Navajo community.

Another notable figure with the surname WAUNEKA was Peterson Wauneka, born in 1924. He served as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II, utilizing the Navajo language to transmit coded messages for the United States military.

In the 20th century, the name WAUNEKA also gained recognition through the accomplishments of Rex Wauneka, a Navajo artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings and depictions of traditional Navajo life.

Additionally, historical records mention John Wauneka, a Navajo chief who lived in the mid-19th century and played a role in the negotiations between the Navajo Nation and the United States government during a period of conflict and relocation.

While the surname WAUNEKA is closely tied to the Navajo Nation and its history, it is important to note that some variations of the name may have existed in other Native American communities or regions, reflecting the diversity and interconnectedness of indigenous cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wauneka

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

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

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

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