Dunlap
A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place meaning "muddy leap," likely referring to a boggy area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 45,381 Americans carry the last name Dunlap. That puts it at #890 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 13.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 7,553 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dunlap 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
45K
1 in 7,553
Census rank
#890
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
13.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
39K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 39,063 bearers of the surname Dunlap in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 13.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 890th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dunlap, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dunlap
The surname Dunlap has its origins in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "dun" meaning hill or fort, and "lap" meaning boggy or marshy ground, suggesting that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a marshy or boggy area near a hill or fort.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. The name is spelled "Dunlop" in this document, indicating that the spelling has evolved over time.
The Dunlap surname is also associated with the Scottish clan Dunlop, which traces its ancestry back to the 12th century and the region of Ayrshire in western Scotland. The clan's ancestral lands were centered around the village of Dunlop, which likely took its name from the same Gaelic roots as the surname.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Dunlap surname was John Dunlop, who was born around 1505 and served as the Secretary of the Scottish Reformation leader John Knox. Dunlop played a crucial role in transcribing and preserving Knox's writings, ensuring their survival for future generations.
Another significant figure in the history of the Dunlap surname was Andrew Dunlop, a Scottish astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1694 to 1742. He made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was a fellow of the Royal Society.
In the 18th century, Francis Dunlap (1730-1799) was a prominent printer and publisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He published some of the earliest editions of the works of Benjamin Franklin and was one of the first printers to publish the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
As the Dunlap surname spread beyond Scotland, it also gained a foothold in Ireland, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was James Dunlop (1793-1848), an Irish novelist and playwright who wrote under the pen name "Paddy Makeshift."
Throughout history, the Dunlap surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Dunlop in Ayrshire, Scotland, and the town of Dunlap, Illinois, which was named after one of the early settlers bearing the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dunlap
Among Census respondents with the surname Dunlap, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Dunlap 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 Dunlap surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White75.0%
- Black or African American19.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dunlap 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #820 | #890 | -8.5% |
| Count | 38,516 | 39,063 | 1.4% |
| Per 100K | 14.28 | 13.24 | -7.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Dunlap bearers went from 38,516 to 39,063 (+1.4% change). The surname moved down 70 positions in the national ranking, going from #820 to #890.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dunlap
FAQ
Dunlap surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dunlap?
The surname Dunlap holds position #890 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 45,381 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 13.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dunlap surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dunlap, the largest self-reported group is White at 75.0%. The next largest groups are Black (19.5%) and Hispanic (2.2%). 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.