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

Núñis, 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 Núñis surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Núñis in America

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

The Núñis 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 Núñis.

The history of the last name Núñis

The surname Nunis is believed to have originated from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly within modern-day Portugal and Spain, during the medieval period. The name is possibly derived from the given name Nuno, a classical medieval Christian name that itself traces back to the Latin word nonus, meaning ninth. This suggests that Nunis could have originally been a patronymic surname, signifying "son of Nuno."

The surname Nunis appears in various historical records throughout the centuries, often with slight variations in spelling. For example, in some older documents, the name is recorded as Nunes, Noones, or Nunnes. These variants indicate the fluidity of surname spelling before standardization in the early modern period.

One of the earliest known references to a person with the surname Nunis is found in Portuguese records from the 13th century, where a family with the name is noted in the region of Porto. Records from this period are sparse, but it is known that the Nunis family held minor noble status.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals bore the surname Nunis. One prominent figure in the 16th century was João Nunis, who was an explorer navigating the coasts of West Africa and Brazil. Born around 1510, João died in 1580, leaving behind significant contributions to early Portuguese naval expeditions.

Another significant figure was Isaac de Nunis, a Jewish merchant born in Amsterdam in the mid-17th century, who later moved to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (now New York). He played a crucial role in establishing one of the earliest Jewish communities in North America.

In the 18th century, Dr. Benjamin Touro Nunis, a physician and prominent member of the colonial Jewish community in Rhode Island, gained recognition. Born in 1708 and dying in 1764, he was instrumental in founding several philanthropic organizations in the region.

Maria Nunis, a noted artist from Spain in the 19th century, is another notable bearer of the surname. Born in 1821, she specialized in portrait painting and contributed significantly to the cultural scene in Madrid until her death in 1887.

In the early 20th century, yet another notable figure was Sarah Nunis, a social reformer born in Lisbon in 1875. Her work in advocating for women's rights and education reform had substantial impacts within Portuguese society. She passed away in 1952, but her legacy continued to influence reforms in the mid-20th century.

The surname Nunis has thus traversed a wide geographical and temporal landscape, reflecting its roots in the Iberian Peninsula and spreading through various paths of migration and historical events. Over the centuries, individuals bearing the name have made significant contributions in diverse areas such as exploration, commerce, medicine, the arts, and social reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Núñis

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

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

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

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