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

Clunis, 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 Clunis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Clunis in America

Clunis is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Clunis surname appeared 194 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 Clunis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Clunis 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 Clunis

The surname Clunis has its origins in Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "cluain," which means "meadow" or "pasture." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked on a meadow or pasture land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Clunis can be found in medieval Scottish documents and records. One notable mention is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists the names of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Clunyss," which is likely an early spelling variation.

In the 15th century, the Clunis family was well-established in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the areas of Inverness-shire and Ross-shire. They were associated with the Clan Chattan, a powerful confederation of clans that held significant influence in the region.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Clunis was Sir William Clunis, who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a knight in the service of the Scottish Crown.

Another notable figure was John Clunis, born in 1530 in Inverness-shire. He was a respected scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He wrote several treatises on religious matters and was a close associate of John Knox, the famous Scottish reformer.

In the 17th century, the Clunis family continued to hold land and influence in the Highlands. One member, Angus Clunis (1620-1692), was a wealthy landowner and chief of the Clunis clan. He was known for his involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, supporting the cause of the exiled House of Stuart.

During the same period, a branch of the Clunis family settled in the Orkney Islands, where they adopted the spelling "Cluness." One notable individual from this line was James Cluness (1672-1738), a successful merchant and ship owner who was instrumental in the development of trade between the Orkney Islands and mainland Scotland.

As the centuries passed, the Clunis name spread to other parts of Scotland and beyond. In the 19th century, several individuals with the surname Clunis made significant contributions in various fields. One example is Robert Clunis (1818-1892), a renowned Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings, including churches and public institutions.

Throughout its long history, the surname Clunis has been associated with a rich heritage in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Orkney Islands. While the name may have originated from a humble reference to meadows or pastures, it has come to represent a proud Scottish lineage with a legacy of landowners, scholars, and influential figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Clunis

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

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

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

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