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

Hunter, 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 Hunter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hunter in America

Hunter is the 160th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hunter surname appeared 162,440 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 55 people would have the surname Hunter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hunter 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 Hunter

The surname HUNTER has its origins in England, originating in the Middle Ages around the 11th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "huntere," meaning "hunter" or "huntsman." The name referred to individuals who engaged in hunting game or worked as professional hunters.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname HUNTER can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Huntor" and "Huntere." This historical record provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 12th century, the surname HUNTER appeared in various forms, such as "Huntere," "Huntare," and "Hontere," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in those times. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname HUNTER was William Hunter, a renowned Scottish anatomist and physician who lived from 1718 to 1783. He made significant contributions to the fields of anatomy and obstetrics and was a respected teacher and author.

Another prominent individual with the HUNTER surname was John Hunter, the younger brother of William Hunter. Born in 1728, John Hunter was a pioneering surgeon and naturalist who made groundbreaking discoveries in fields such as human anatomy, surgery, and comparative anatomy.

In the 16th century, the surname HUNTER was found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lancashire. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Hunter's Hill in Kent and Hunter's Lodge in Worcestershire.

Robert Hunter, a Scottish poet and songwriter, lived from 1874 to 1958 and is renowned for his contributions to the folk music revival in Scotland. He was a significant figure in preserving and promoting traditional Scottish songs and ballads.

Evelyn Underhill, born in 1875 and died in 1941, was an English Anglo-Catholic writer and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of mysticism and spirituality. She bore the surname HUNTER through her marriage to Hubert Stuart Moore.

Throughout its history, the surname HUNTER has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including hunters, naturalists, physicians, poets, and writers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hunter

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

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

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

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