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

Lunsford, 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 Lunsford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lunsford in America

Lunsford is the 2137th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lunsford surname appeared 16,962 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Lunsford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lunsford 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 Lunsford

The surname Lunsford has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words 'lunden' meaning 'London' and 'ford', referring to a ford or shallow river crossing near the city of London. This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name, possibly referring to someone who lived near a ford close to London.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Lundesford'. This entry provides evidence of the name's presence in England during the Norman conquest. The Domesday Book was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror, making it a valuable source for tracing the origins of surnames.

Throughout the Middle Ages, variations of the name emerged, including 'Lunsforde', 'Lunsfort', and 'Lunsford'. These spelling variations were common due to the lack of standardized orthography during that period. The name was often associated with various locations, such as Lunsford in Kent and Lunsford in Hertfordshire, further solidifying its connection to place names.

One notable bearer of the Lunsford surname was Sir Thomas Lunsford (1572-1653), an English soldier and landowner who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was appointed Governor of Chichester and played a significant role in defending the city against the Parliamentarian forces.

Another historical figure bearing this surname was Henry Lunsford (1572-1624), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company. He was influential in the early colonization efforts of Virginia and played a role in the establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.

In the 16th century, John Lunsford (c. 1530-1593) was a prominent English poet and translator. He is known for his translations of works by classical authors, including Virgil's Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Thomas Lunsford (1804-1892) was a notable American politician and lawyer from North Carolina. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and played a significant role in the debates leading up to the Civil War.

Lastly, Sir Everard Lunsford (c. 1540-1612) was an English soldier and courtier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He held positions as a gentleman pensioner and served as a member of the Privy Council, highlighting the prominence of the Lunsford name among the English gentry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lunsford

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

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

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

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