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

Gunawan, 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 Gunawan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunawan in America

Gunawan is the 30339th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunawan surname appeared 771 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 Gunawan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunawan 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 Gunawan

The surname Gunawan has its origins in Indonesia, where it is a common name amongst the Javanese people. The name is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit words "guna" meaning virtue or merit, and "wan" meaning to have or possess. Thus, the name Gunawan is thought to signify a person possessing virtuous qualities or merit.

The earliest recorded use of the name Gunawan can be traced back to the 8th century, during the Mataram Kingdom in Java. It is believed that the name was initially used as a title or honorific bestowed upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional valor, wisdom, or spiritual attainment. Over time, this title evolved into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Gunawan can be found in the 9th century Javanese epic poem, Kakawin Ramayana. In this ancient literary work, there is a character named Gunawan, who is portrayed as a wise and virtuous advisor to the protagonist, Rama.

During the 14th century, the name Gunawan gained prominence with the rise of the Majapahit Empire, one of the greatest maritime empires in Southeast Asian history. Several high-ranking officials and military commanders bore the name Gunawan, indicating its association with nobility and leadership.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Gunawan. One of the most renowned is Raden Gunawan Wicaksana, a 16th-century Javanese historian and author of the Babad Tanah Jawi, a chronicle of the history of Java. Another prominent figure is Gunawan Wibisono, a 19th-century Javanese prince and military leader who played a crucial role in the Java War against Dutch colonial forces.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gunawan include Gunawan Mohamad, a celebrated Indonesian writer and poet born in 1924, and Gunawan Tjahyono, a respected Indonesian architect and urban planner who significantly contributed to the development of modern cities in Indonesia during the late 20th century.

The name Gunawan has also been associated with various place names across Indonesia, particularly in Java and Bali, where it is often used as a village or town name. This further underscores the deep-rooted connection between the name and the cultural heritage of the Indonesian archipelago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunawan

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gunawan, 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!