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

Gunn, 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 Gunn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunn in America

Gunn is the 1525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunn surname appeared 23,524 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Gunn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunn 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 Gunn

The surname Gunn is of Scottish origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "gonn," which means "war" or "battle." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted by someone who was a skilled warrior or soldier.

The earliest known record of the name Gunn is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England following the conquest of Scotland. In these rolls, the name appears as "Gwn" and "Gunnild." Over time, the spelling evolved into the more recognizable "Gunn."

In the 15th century, the Gunns were established as a prominent clan in the northern Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland. The clan's ancestral lands were located in the parish of Latheron in Caithness, where the Gunn family held significant influence and power.

One of the earliest recorded Gunns was Sir Alexander Gunn, who lived in the late 14th century and was a prominent figure in the clan. He is believed to have been involved in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, a significant conflict between the Scottish nobility and the Lord of the Isles.

Another notable Gunn was Robert Gunn, who was born in 1670 and served as the Bishop of Caithness from 1714 to 1727. He played an important role in the Scottish Episcopal Church during a turbulent period in Scottish history.

In the 18th century, George Gunn (1718-1782) was a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

The Gunns were also involved in the Jacobite risings of the 18th century, with several members of the clan supporting the cause of the exiled House of Stuart. One such Gunn was John Gunn (1718-1800), who fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the final confrontation of the Jacobite uprising.

In the 19th century, George Gunn (1801-1868) was a Scottish surgeon and anatomist who made notable contributions to the field of medical education and the study of human anatomy.

The Gunn surname has spread throughout the world, with many descendants of the Scottish clan now found in various countries, including England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, the name remains strongly associated with its Scottish Highland origins and the rich history of the Gunn clan.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunn

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

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

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

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