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

Blunk, 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 Blunk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Blunk in America

Blunk is the 22319th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Blunk surname appeared 1,155 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 Blunk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Blunk 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 Blunk

The surname Blunk has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, specifically Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Low German word "blunk," which means "shiny" or "bright." This could suggest that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone with a bright complexion or perhaps someone who worked with shiny materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Blunk can be found in a document from the city of Lübeck, Germany, dated 1387. The entry mentions a certain "Henricus Blunk," indicating that the name was already in use by that time. In the Netherlands, the name appears in records from the 16th century, with variations such as "Blunck" and "Bluncke."

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the Blunk family spread across different regions, the name underwent various spelling changes. In some areas, it was recorded as "Blunck," "Blunkk," or "Blunque." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Blunk was Johann Blunk, a German clockmaker who lived in the 17th century (1630-1705). His intricate and highly regarded clocks were prized by the nobility and can still be found in museums today.

In the 18th century, the name Blunk appeared in the records of the town of Hagen, located in the Ruhr region of Germany. One such record from 1742 mentions a "Johannes Blunk," who was a landowner and farmer.

As the Blunk family continued to grow and migrate, some members eventually made their way to the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Friedrich Blunk, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 from Germany.

In the 19th century, the name Blunk gained further recognition with the birth of Ernst Blunk (1853-1922), a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can be found in various art galleries across Europe.

Another notable figure was Wilhelm Blunk (1885-1944), a German architect who designed several iconic buildings in Berlin, including the Kino Delphi cinema.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Blunk throughout history, showcasing its longevity and the diverse backgrounds of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Blunk

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

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

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

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