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

Gunnells, 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 Gunnells surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunnells in America

Gunnells is the 18137th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunnells surname appeared 1,535 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gunnells.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunnells 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 Gunnells

The surname GUNNELLS has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Gunnill, which itself comes from the Old English words "gunna" meaning "conflict" or "battle" and "hyll" meaning "hill." This suggests that the name may have referred to a hill or elevated area where a significant battle or conflict took place.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it appears as "Gunnill" and "Gunnyl." The name was particularly prominent in the counties of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire, indicating that these areas may have been the original homeland of the GUNNELLS family.

In the 16th century, the name began to evolve into its modern spelling, with variants like "Gunnell" and "Gunnells" appearing in parish records and other official documents. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Gunnell, a prominent merchant and landowner from Worcestershire, born in 1524.

The GUNNELLS name also has a connection to several place names in England, such as Gunnill Bank in Worcestershire and Gunnell's Farm in Warwickshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the GUNNELLS family may have owned or resided in these locations at some point in history.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, several members of the GUNNELLS family made their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Thomas Gunnells (1658-1723), a successful attorney and legal scholar from Gloucestershire. Another was William Gunnells (1714-1789), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London.

As the centuries progressed, the GUNNELLS name continued to spread throughout England and beyond. In the 19th century, George Gunnells (1812-1887) was a prominent figure in the British colonial administration in India, serving as a district magistrate and collector. Additionally, Sarah Gunnells (1842-1921) was a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded several schools and educational institutions in London.

While the GUNNELLS name may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and numerous notable individuals. From its origins as a locational name tied to a significant conflict or battle site, to its spread throughout England and its association with various place names, the GUNNELLS surname has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunnells

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

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

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

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