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

Bunkley, 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 Bunkley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bunkley in America

Bunkley is the 23386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bunkley surname appeared 1,088 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 Bunkley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bunkley 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 Bunkley

The surname BUNKLEY is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is likely derived from an Old English place name that has since been lost or altered over time. One possible source is the Old English word "bunca," which meant a small hill or mound, combined with the word "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BUNKLEY can be found in the Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property values in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Buncalegh" and "Buncleia," indicating its evolution over the centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the BUNKLEY name was associated with several notable individuals. Richard BUNKLEY, born around 1325, was a prominent merchant and landowner in the county of Wiltshire. His son, William BUNKLEY (c. 1360-1432), was a respected scholar and served as a canon at Salisbury Cathedral.

In the 16th century, the BUNKLEY family played a role in the English Reformation. John BUNKLEY (1520-1589) was a Protestant clergyman who faced persecution for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I. His son, Thomas BUNKLEY (1560-1631), was a renowned Puritan minister and author who advocated for further reforms within the Church of England.

During the 17th century, the BUNKLEY name was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Yorkshire. One notable figure from this period was Robert BUNKLEY (1625-1695), a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and almshouses in his hometown of Bristol.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, members of the BUNKLEY family contributed to various fields, including politics, literature, and academia. Samuel BUNKLEY (1745-1821) was a prominent lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark. His nephew, William BUNKLEY (1780-1856), was a celebrated poet and essayist whose works explored themes of nature and human emotion.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bunkley

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

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

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

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