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

Flunker, 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 Flunker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Flunker in America

Flunker is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Flunker surname appeared 161 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 Flunker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Flunker 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 Flunker

The surname "FLUNKER" is thought to have originated in the northern regions of Germany during the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "flunkern," which means "to flicker" or "to flutter." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a candle maker or a skilled craftsman in the production of lamps or lanterns.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "FLUNKER" can be found in a historical document from the city of Hamburg, dated around 1492. This document mentions a certain "Hans Flunker," who was a member of the local guild of candlemakers. It is likely that Hans Flunker was among the first individuals to bear this surname.

In the 16th century, the name "FLUNKER" began to appear in various records across northern Germany, including the regions of Saxony and Mecklenburg. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Flunkner" or "Flunckner," reflecting the variations in local dialects and orthographic conventions.

A notable figure bearing the surname "FLUNKER" was Johann Flunker (1587-1644), a prominent theologian and scholar from the town of Rostock. Johann Flunker authored several influential treatises on Protestant theology and served as a professor at the University of Rostock for over two decades.

Another individual of historical significance was Margaretha Flunker (1612-1678), who was born in the city of Lübeck. Margaretha Flunker gained recognition as a skilled embroiderer and textile artist, and her intricate needlework adorned the vestments of several prominent churches in northern Germany.

In the 18th century, the surname "FLUNKER" began to spread beyond Germany as individuals bearing this name migrated to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable example is Heinrich Flunker (1729-1803), who emigrated from Bavaria to the English colony of Pennsylvania in 1752. Heinrich Flunker and his descendants played an important role in the establishment of the German-American community in the region.

The name "FLUNKER" has also been associated with several notable figures in more recent history, such as the German philosopher and writer Friedrich Flunker (1818-1892), whose works explored themes of existentialism and the human condition.

Overall, the surname "FLUNKER" has a rich history spanning several centuries and various regions of Europe, with its origins rooted in the traditions of candlemaking and craftsmanship in northern Germany. While the name may have evolved over time, it continues to hold a place in the tapestry of cultural and linguistic diversity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Flunker

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

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

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

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