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

Kunshier, 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 Kunshier surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Kunshier in America

Kunshier is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kunshier surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kunshier.

The history of the last name Kunshier

The surname Kunshier traces its origins to the regions of Central Europe, particularly in the area now known as Germany. It appears that the name was likely derived from local dialects in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. Kunshier is not a common surname and seems to have emerged from smaller, perhaps more rural communities.

The name may be connected to the old Germanic elements "kun" meaning 'race, family, or kin' and "scher" which could be related to "schere", meaning 'shears' or 'scissors'. This suggests that the name might have originally been occupational, referring perhaps to a family of shearers or cloth cutters. The localization in medieval manuscripts points to areas in Bavaria and Saxony where textile production was a prominent industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kunshier appears in a 14th-century tax register from the Bavarian town of Augsburg. The record lists a Heinrich Kunshier, a weaver, as paying dues on his loom and goods in the year 1374. This early reference gives credence to the idea that the surname has craft-related origins.

Another historical figure is Johann Kunshier, mentioned in the parish records of Leipzig in 1483. Johann was known to be a merchant dealing in fabric, which reinforces the occupational theory of the surname's origin. His records include transactions and dealings that outline a thriving business in this German city.

A significant mention in the annals of history is of Matthias Kunshier, born in Nuremberg in 1521. Matthias was a known supporter of Martin Luther and the Reformation. His letters and accounts, preserved in the city’s archives, exhibit a clear devotion to the cause and add a religious and cultural layer to the surname's history.

In the mid-17th century, the name appears again in the form of Anna Kunshier, a midwife in the town of Mainz, chronicled in 1645. Her work during the Thirty Years' War earned her a notable place in the local community, and several documents from the era outline her contributions to societal welfare during a difficult time.

By the 18th century, the surname Kunshier began to show sporadic placement in emigration records. Georg Kunshier, born in 1702, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1734, joining many other German families seeking new opportunities in the American colonies. His documentation suggests he continued his craft as a weaver in his new home.

Overall, the surname Kunshier embodies a rich, interwoven history related to the textile industry, religious movements, and the great migration periods that shaped modern nations. The recorded individuals give a face and story to this relatively rare yet historically significant surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kunshier

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kunshier 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.

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

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

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