American Samoa Genealogy

Pacific Samoa (Western and American) United States American Samoa

American Samoa Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder Online Learning
Record Types
Cemeteries Census Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Emigration & Immigration	Military Records Newspapers Online Records Oral Genealogies Religious Records Vital Records
American Samoa Background
Gazetteers History Jurisdictions Languages Maps Naming Customs	Samoan Word List Social Life & Customs Naming Conventions
Local Research Resources
Archives & Libraries Societies FamilySearch Centers

Guide to American Samoa ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Country Information

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Pacific Ocean whose nearest neighbors are the Cook Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. The official languages are Samoan and English.

Getting Started

Getting Started with American Samoa Research Links to articles on getting started with American Samoa research. Pacific Island Guide Samoa (Western and American)

American Samoa Research Tools Links to articles and websites that assist in American Samoa research. Samoan Genealogy Blog Vital Records of American Samoa. Death Records of American Samoa. Kindred Trails. American Samoa (GenWeb).

American Samoa Map

Genealogy records are kept on the local level in American Samoa.

Jurisdictions

Genealogy records are kept on the local level in American Samoa. American Samoa is divided into three districts: Eastern, Western, and Manu'a. It also has two unorganized atolls, Swains Island and Rose Atoll (which is uninhabited). These districts and atolls are divided into 74 villages.

Naming Conventions

Samoan names are often part of the Matai title system. Here are several resources:

• Nobility - This is a FamilySearch Wiki article on nobility and how that factors into people's Matai names
• Naming Conventions in Samoa -- Wikipedia section of Fa'amatai (the chiefly system of Samoa)
• Trying to Understand Matai Titles/Surnames -- a message board article at Ancestry.com
• Names of villages in American Samoa -- some of these village names may be used in the Matai titles
• An account of Samoan History up to 1918 -- contains a lot of matai title name history

FamilySearch Resources

Below are FamilySearch resources that can assist you in resourcing your family.

• Facebook Communities - Facebook groups discussing genealogy research
• Learning Center - Online genealogy courses
• Historical Records
• Family History Center locator map