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

Chunn, 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 Chunn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chunn in America

Chunn is the 12850th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chunn surname appeared 2,396 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chunn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chunn 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 Chunn

The surname CHUNN has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyning," meaning "king," suggesting that the name may have been given to those with a regal or authoritative bearing.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record compiled in 1273 during the reign of King Edward I. This document mentions a certain "Robert le Chunn," indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

During the medieval period, the name CHUNN was predominantly concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. It is likely that the name originated in this region and later spread to other parts of the country.

In the 16th century, the name CHUNN appeared in various spellings, including "Chunn," "Chunne," and "Chun," reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling that were common during that era. One notable figure from this time was William Chunn (c. 1520-1592), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norfolk.

As the centuries progressed, the CHUNN surname continued to be found in historical records across England. Notable individuals bearing this name include:

1. Sir John Chunn (1630-1692), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of King William III.
2. Elizabeth Chunn (1734-1811), a celebrated author and poet whose works were widely acclaimed in literary circles of the 18th century.
3. Admiral Thomas Chunn (1768-1841), a renowned naval officer who played a crucial role in several key battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
4. Sir Arthur Chunn (1819-1891), a renowned explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Africa and Asia.
5. Emily Chunn (1871-1945), an influential social reformer and advocate for women's rights, who founded several charitable organizations in London.

While the surname CHUNN has roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and exploration. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient lands of East Anglia, where it first emerged as a mark of distinction and authority.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chunn

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

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

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

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