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

Kunst, 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 Kunst surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kunst in America

Kunst is the 23268th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kunst surname appeared 1,095 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 Kunst.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kunst 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 Kunst

The surname Kunst originates from Germany and the Netherlands, emerging around the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle Low German word "kunst," meaning "skill" or "craft," suggesting that the name may have been an occupational name for a skilled artisan or craftsman.

In medieval times, the name Kunst appeared in various records and documents across Germanic regions. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to 1290, when a certain Henricus Kunst was mentioned in the records of the city of Cologne.

Another notable early reference can be found in the 14th century Germersheim Codex, a collection of legal texts and documents from the region of Palatinate. This codex mentions a Cunrad Kunst, who was likely a prominent figure in the local community.

The name Kunst has also been associated with various place names throughout its history. For instance, the village of Kunstberg in the Rhineland region of Germany is believed to be derived from the surname Kunst, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in the area.

Several historical figures have borne the surname Kunst, including Johann Kunst (1518-1592), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of Saxony. Another notable individual was Hans Kunst (c. 1500-1560), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg, known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings.

In the Netherlands, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kunst can be traced back to the 16th century. Hendrick Kunst (c. 1520-1590) was a Dutch painter and engraver active in Amsterdam, renowned for his landscapes and portraits.

Later, in the 17th century, Johannes Kunst (1624-1693) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still life paintings and genre scenes. He was a member of the renowned Leiden painters' guild.

Another prominent figure bearing the surname Kunst was Johann Heinrich Kunst (1728-1800), a German engraver and etcher from Berlin. His intricate etchings and engravings depicting scenes from classical mythology and literature were highly regarded during his time.

Overall, the surname Kunst has a rich history rooted in the skilled crafts and arts of medieval and early modern Europe, particularly in German and Dutch regions. Its association with various artisans, painters, engravers, and musicians reflects the significance of this name in the cultural and artistic spheres throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kunst

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

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

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

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