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

Bunyan, 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 Bunyan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bunyan in America

Bunyan is the 32485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bunyan surname appeared 708 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 Bunyan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bunyan 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 Bunyan

The surname BUNYAN originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "bunne" meaning a "ben" or inner room. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century in areas around Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The name is believed to have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in the inner rooms of a house or estate. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary family name. In the 13th century Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, the name is recorded as "Bunyon" and "Bunne", indicating early variations in spelling.

One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was John Bunyan (1628-1688), the famous English writer and Puritan preacher. He authored the renowned allegory "The Pilgrim's Progress", one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Bunyan spent many years imprisoned for his non-conformist beliefs, during which he wrote prolifically.

Another historical figure was William Bunyan (1688-1758), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Stephen's Church in Bristol. He published several sermons and theological works during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Jeremiah Bunyan (1756-1837) was a notable English Baptist minister and author from Bedfordshire. He wrote extensively on religious topics and served as the pastor of several churches.

Thomas Bunyan (1799-1884), a 19th-century English architect and surveyor, is also noteworthy. He designed several churches and public buildings in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

The surname BUNYAN can also be found in early records from the United States, with some of the first instances appearing in New England in the 17th century. One early bearer was Solomon Bunyan (1640-1708), who settled in Massachusetts and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church.

Throughout its history, the name BUNYAN has maintained its roots in England, particularly in the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, where it originated. While not an extremely common surname, it has been carried by several notable individuals, most famously the author John Bunyan, whose literary works have had a lasting impact on English literature and religious thought.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bunyan

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

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

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

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