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

Cuny, 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 Cuny surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cuny in America

Cuny is the 36379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cuny surname appeared 615 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 Cuny.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cuny 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 Cuny

The surname CUNY originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "cuignet," which means "leg" or "shank." This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a distinctive physical characteristic related to their legs.

The earliest recorded instances of the CUNY surname can be found in French records from the 13th century. For example, a certain Jehan Cuny is mentioned in a document from the city of Troyes in 1289. There are also references to individuals with the name CUNY in the tax rolls and census records of various French regions during this period.

One notable historical figure with the CUNY surname was Jean Cuny, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1510 to 1582. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several important buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and the Pont Neuf, one of the oldest bridges spanning the River Seine.

Another individual of note was François Cuny, a French Protestant theologian and writer who lived from 1617 to 1688. He published several influential works on religious topics and was a prominent figure in the Reformed Church of France during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Louis Cuny (1712-1792) was a French artist and engraver who became a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris. He is known for his etchings and engravings depicting scenes from classical mythology and literature.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the CUNY surname in North America was Jacques Cuny, a French settler who arrived in Quebec, Canada, in 1637. He was one of the first European colonists to establish a permanent settlement in the region.

Another notable figure was Frederick Cuny (1944-1995), an American disaster relief expert and humanitarian aid worker. He was involved in relief efforts in numerous conflict zones and natural disasters around the world, including the Kurdish refugee crisis in Iraq, the Bosnian War, and the Rwandan genocide.

While the CUNY surname has its roots in France, it has spread to various parts of the world over the centuries due to migration and population movements. Today, it can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and others with significant French or European heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cuny

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

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

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

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