Clunie
A Scottish surname referring to a person from Cluny in Aberdeenshire.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Clunie. That puts it at #56,972 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Clunie surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#56,972
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
358
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 358 bearers of the surname Clunie in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 56972nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Clunie, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.7%) and Hispanic (7.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Clunie
The surname Clunie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic term "cluain," meaning "meadow" or "pasture." It is believed to have originated in the Perthshire region of Scotland, particularly around the village of Clunie.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Clunie name can be found in the Scottish Ragman Rolls of 1296, which listed individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. Among those listed was Thome de Clony, a probable early spelling variation of the surname.
The Clunie family held lands in the parish of Clunie, situated near the town of Blairgowrie in Perthshire. This area was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Fortrenn, and the name Clunie likely derived from the description of the local landscape.
In the 16th century, records show a John Clunie who was a prominent landowner and burgess (a member of the medieval town guild) in the nearby town of Perth. His son, also named John Clunie, became a respected clergyman and served as the minister of the parish of Borthwick in Midlothian.
Another notable figure bearing the Clunie surname was Sir Alexander Clunie, a Scottish merchant and diplomat who lived in the 17th century. He served as a representative of the Scottish Crown in various European courts and played a crucial role in negotiating trade agreements.
In the literary realm, John Clunie, born in 1743, was a Scottish poet and songwriter who penned several works celebrating the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the traditional way of life.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals with the Clunie surname migrated from Scotland to other parts of the British Empire, including North America and Australia, contributing to the spread and diversification of the name worldwide.
It is worth noting that the Clunie surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Clunie Castle, a ruined 16th-century castle located near the village of Clunie, and Clunie Loch, a small loch in the same area.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Clunie
Among Census respondents with the surname Clunie, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.7%) and Hispanic (7.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Clunie bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Clunie surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White58.9%
- Black or African American32.7%
- Hispanic or Latino7.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Clunie surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #56,972 | #56,972 | 0.0% |
| Count | 358 | 358 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Clunie bearers went from 358 to 358 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #56,972 to #56,972.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Clunie
FAQ
Clunie surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Clunie?
The surname Clunie holds position #56,972 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Clunie surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Clunie, the largest self-reported group is White at 58.9%. The next largest groups are Black (32.7%) and Hispanic (7.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.