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

Núñez, 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 Núñez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Núñez in America

Núñez is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Núñez surname appeared 114 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 Núñez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Núñez 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 Núñez

The surname NUMEZ is believed to have originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal, during the Middle Ages. Its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "numerus," which means "number" or "numeral." This suggests that the name may have been derived from an occupation or profession related to arithmetic or record-keeping.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the NUMEZ surname can be found in the 12th-century Spanish manuscript, the "Codex Calixtinus." This document, also known as the "Liber Sancti Jacobi," contains references to individuals bearing the NUMEZ surname, indicating its presence in the region during that time period.

The NUMEZ surname has also been linked to various place names in Spain and Portugal, such as the town of Nuñez in Extremadura, Spain, and the village of Numão in Portugal. These place names likely originated from the same Latin root as the surname, further solidifying its connection to the Iberian Peninsula.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the NUMEZ surname. One of the earliest recorded was Pedro Nunez (c. 1492-1577), a renowned Portuguese mathematician and cosmographer who made significant contributions to the fields of navigation and cartography. His work was instrumental in the Age of Exploration and the advancement of maritime technology.

Another prominent figure was Alonso Nuñez de Haro (1590-1658), a Spanish jurist and writer who served as a magistrate in the Chancery of Granada. His legal treatises and works on Spanish literature were highly influential during the Golden Age of Spanish literature.

In the realm of art, Juan Nuñez de Valdes (c. 1520-1590) was a Spanish painter and sculptor known for his religious works and his contributions to the Renaissance art movement in Spain.

Moving forward in time, Gaspar Nunez de Arce (1834-1903) was a renowned Spanish poet and politician who served as a member of the Royal Spanish Academy and held various political positions, including that of Minister of Development.

Lastly, Enrique Nunez (1935-2009) was a prominent Mexican architect and urban planner who played a significant role in shaping the modern landscape of Mexico City with his innovative and sustainable designs.

While the NUMEZ surname may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its origins can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula and the Latin word "numerus," reflecting a connection to the fields of arithmetic, record-keeping, and perhaps even the occupation of a scribe or clerk in medieval times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Núñez

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

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

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

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