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

Gunner, 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 Gunner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gunner in America

Gunner is the 33856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gunner surname appeared 672 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 Gunner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gunner 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 Gunner

The surname Gunner originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old English word "gunne," which referred to a type of medieval cannon or artillery. The name likely first came into use as an occupational name for those who operated and maintained these early firearms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gunner surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert le Gunnur in Norfolk. This early spelling variation highlights the name's origins from the word "gunne." Other early spellings included Gonnor, Gunnor, and Gonner.

In the 14th century, the name Gunner appeared in various tax and legal records across England. For example, a John Gunnour was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379. The name was particularly prevalent in areas where early gunpowder and artillery manufacturing took place, such as London and the surrounding counties.

Notable historical figures with the Gunner surname include Edmund Gunner, a 16th-century English churchman who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1533 to 1554. Another early bearer of the name was William Gunner, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Whole Duty of a Christian" (1661).

In the 18th century, John Gunner (1768-1854) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, eventually rising to the rank of Admiral. During the same period, Henry Gunner (1744-1824) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Aldermanbury.

One of the most famous bearers of the Gunner surname was Sir Robert Gunner (1835-1920), a British Army officer who served in several campaigns, including the Crimean War and the Second Boer War. He was knighted for his military service in 1900 and later became a Member of Parliament.

The Gunner surname has a rich history rooted in the early development of gunpowder and artillery in medieval England. While not as common today, it remains a significant name with connections to notable historical figures across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gunner

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

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

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

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