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

Dunkin, 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 Dunkin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dunkin in America

Dunkin is the 9334th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dunkin surname appeared 3,489 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 Dunkin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dunkin 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 Dunkin

The surname Dunkin originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dun" and "dune," which referred to a hill or a down, suggesting that the name may have initially been a descriptive one, given to individuals residing near a prominent hill or elevated terrain.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents. In the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 during the reign of William the Conqueror, there are references to individuals bearing similar surnames, such as de Dunes and de Duna, which likely evolved into the modern spelling of Dunkin over time.

During the 13th century, the name Dunkin appeared in various legal records and charters. One notable example is Robert Dunkin, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230. Similarly, in 1275, a certain William Dunkin was recorded as a witness to a land transaction in the Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire.

The name Dunkin has also been associated with place names, particularly areas with hilly or elevated landscapes. For instance, the village of Dunkin in Somerset, England, may have influenced the surname's spelling and prevalence in that region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Dunkin. One prominent figure was Sir John Dunkin (1580-1644), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton in the early 17th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was Edmund Dunkin (1684-1736), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge.

In the literary realm, John Dunkin (1782-1846) was an English poet and antiquarian, known for his work "The History and Antiquities of Bicester." Additionally, William Dunkin (1817-1886) was a British artist and engraver who specialized in portraiture and historical scenes.

The name Dunkin has also been associated with various occupations and trades. For example, in the 16th century, a certain Thomas Dunkin was recorded as a baker in the parish registers of St. Dunstan's, Canterbury, possibly indicating a connection between the surname and the baking profession.

While the surname Dunkin has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, it can be found in various countries, with each region potentially adding its own unique variations and interpretations to the name's history and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dunkin

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

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

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

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