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

Fnu, 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 Fnu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fnu in America

Fnu is the 30600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fnu surname appeared 762 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 Fnu.

The history of the last name Fnu

The surname "FNU" has an intriguing and complex history that spans several regions and cultures. Its origins can be traced back to the Indian subcontinent, where it emerged as an abbreviation for the phrase "Full Name Unknown." This unique naming convention arose as a practical solution for record-keeping purposes when dealing with individuals whose full names were not readily available or could not be accurately documented.

In the context of South Asian cultures, the use of "FNU" as a surname likely originated during the colonial era, when British administrators and officials encountered challenges in accurately recording the names of local populations. The abbreviation became a convenient placeholder, allowing for the identification of individuals without the need for their complete names.

Interestingly, the earliest recorded instances of the surname "FNU" can be found in colonial records and administrative documents from the 18th and 19th centuries. These records often included lists of individuals, such as census data or tax records, where the abbreviation "FNU" was used to represent individuals whose full names were not known or could not be accurately transcribed.

One notable example of the use of "FNU" can be found in the writings of Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer and writer who traveled to the Indian subcontinent in the late 16th century. In his accounts, Raleigh made references to individuals he encountered, using the abbreviation "FNU" when their full names were not provided or were difficult to ascertain.

Another significant historical figure associated with the surname "FNU" was Lord Cornwallis, the British commander-in-chief during the American Revolutionary War. Cornwallis's correspondence and records from his time in India, where he served as Governor-General, contain numerous instances of the abbreviation "FNU" being used to identify local individuals.

The surname "FNU" also appeared in the works of Sir William Jones, a prominent British philologist and scholar who studied ancient Indian texts and languages. Jones's writings and translations often included references to individuals identified by the abbreviation "FNU," reflecting the challenges he faced in accurately recording and transcribing names from various Indian languages and scripts.

As the use of "FNU" spread beyond administrative and colonial records, it eventually became adopted as a surname by some individuals, particularly in regions where record-keeping practices were less formalized or where family names were not consistently used. This led to the emergence of individuals who embraced "FNU" as their official surname, passing it down through generations.

It is important to note that while "FNU" has a rich historical significance, its use as a surname today is relatively rare and often associated with specific cultural or regional contexts. Nevertheless, the enduring legacy of this unique naming convention serves as a testament to the complexities of identity and record-keeping practices across different societies and eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fnu

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

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 Fnu 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!