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

Nunes, 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 Nunes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nunes in America

Nunes is the 2942nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nunes surname appeared 12,191 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Nunes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nunes 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 Nunes

The surname Nunes has its origins in Portugal, where it emerged during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin name "Nunus" or "Nonnus," which was a common personal name in ancient Rome. This name is believed to have been derived from the Latin word "nonus," meaning "ninth."

The Nunes surname first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, particularly in the region of Alentejo in southern Portugal. During this time, the use of surnames became more widespread among the nobility and upper classes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nunes surname is found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical manuscript from the 13th century. It mentions several individuals with the surname Nunes, indicating their prominence in medieval Portuguese society.

The name Nunes is also associated with the town of Nunão in the district of Viseu, Portugal. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname Nunes due to their connection with this locality.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Nunes surname. One of the earliest was Pedro Nunes (1492-1577), a renowned Portuguese mathematician, cosmographer, and navigator. He made significant contributions to the fields of navigation and cartography during the Age of Exploration.

Another prominent figure was Fernão Nunes (1610-1675), a Portuguese Jesuit priest and architect who designed several churches and buildings in Brazil during the colonial period.

In the realm of literature, Vasco Fernandes Nunes (1565-1625) was a Portuguese poet and author who wrote works on religion and philosophy.

Maria de Lourdes Modesto Nunes (1908-1991) was a prominent Portuguese painter and sculptor known for her avant-garde artistic style.

More recently, Álvaro Nunes Cabral (1923-2012) was a celebrated Portuguese lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the European Parliament.

While these are just a few examples, the Nunes surname has a long and rich history, with individuals from various walks of life contributing to the cultural, intellectual, and political landscapes of Portugal and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nunes

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

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

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

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