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

Eunice, 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 Eunice surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Eunice in America

Eunice is the 38103rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Eunice surname appeared 582 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 Eunice.

We can also compare 2010 data for Eunice 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 Eunice

The surname EUNICE is believed to have originated from the ancient Greek name Eunike, which means "good victory" or "victorious." The name has its roots in Greek mythology and was likely first used as a personal name before becoming a surname.

The earliest known use of EUNICE as a surname can be traced back to England in the 16th century. It is thought to have been adopted by families who had connections to Greece or had Greek ancestry. During this period, the surname was sometimes spelled as EUNIKE or EUNYCE, reflecting its Greek origins.

In the 17th century, the EUNICE surname began to spread across other parts of Europe, including France and Germany. Records from this time show variations in spelling, such as EUNITZ and EUNITZ, as the name adapted to different linguistic environments.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname EUNICE was Sir John Eunice, an English merchant and diplomat who lived from 1550 to 1623. He was known for his travels to the Ottoman Empire and his role in facilitating trade between England and the Middle East.

Another notable figure was Eunice Katharine Shriver (1921-2009), an American activist and philanthropist who founded the Special Olympics. She was a member of the prominent Kennedy family and played a significant role in advocating for the rights of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

In the 18th century, the EUNICE surname began to appear in North America, carried by immigrants from Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances was Eunice Paine (1743-1827), a colonial American woman who was the wife of Robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The EUNICE surname also has a connection to the world of literature. Eunice Kathleen Waymon (1933-2003), better known by her stage name Nina Simone, was an influential American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Her surname, EUNICE, was a family name passed down from her maternal grandmother.

Another notable figure was Eunice Mary Muir Buchanan (1905-1997), a Scottish journalist and author who wrote under the pen name Eunice Buchanan. She is best known for her novels set in Scotland and her contributions to the Glasgow Evening Times.

While the EUNICE surname is not among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history spanning centuries and cultures, reflecting the diverse origins and experiences of those who have carried this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Eunice

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

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

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

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