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

Nunnelee, 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 Nunnelee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nunnelee in America

Nunnelee is the 58337th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nunnelee surname appeared 348 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 Nunnelee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nunnelee 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 Nunnelee

The surname NUNNELEE is believed to have originated in England, likely in the late medieval period or early modern era. It may derive from a combination of the Old English words "nunne," meaning "nun," and "leah," referring to a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests the name could have been originally associated with a location or settlement near a nun's convent or abbey situated in a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears to be in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 16th century, where it is spelled "Nunley." This variation suggests a potential connection to a place name like "Nunley" or a similar toponym, although the exact location remains uncertain.

In the 17th century, the name is found in various parish records and historical documents across northern England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Spellings such as "Nuneley," "Nunnelee," and "Nunneley" are encountered during this time.

A notable early bearer of the name was Thomas Nunnelee, born around 1620 in Yorkshire, who is recorded as a landowner and yeoman farmer in the parish of Kirkby Malzeard. Another individual, John Nunnelee (c. 1670-1745), was a merchant and ship owner based in the port town of Whitby.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name spread to other parts of England and beyond, as families with the surname NUNNELEE migrated or sought new opportunities. One such individual was William Nunnelee (1782-1856), a respected solicitor and landowner from Lincolnshire, who played a role in the establishment of several local schools and charitable institutions.

In the United States, the name NUNNELEE can be traced back to the early 19th century, with families of this surname arriving from England and settling in various regions, including the South and Midwest. A prominent figure was Howell Edmunds Nunnelee (1826-1905), a lawyer and planter from Mississippi, who served as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

Another notable bearer of the NUNNELEE name was Sir John Nunnelee (1837-1923), a successful industrialist and businessman from Lancashire, England, who was knighted for his philanthropic work and contributions to the local community.

While the NUNNELEE surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and various regions, with its origins likely rooted in the countryside of northern England and its early bearers associated with rural settlements and occupations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nunnelee

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

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

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

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