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

Punay, 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 Punay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Punay in America

Punay is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Punay surname appeared 107 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 Punay.

The history of the last name Punay

The surname PUNAY originated in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Tagalog word "punay," which translates to "fountain" or "spring." This name was likely given to families residing near a natural water source or fountain.

The earliest recorded instances of the PUNAY surname can be traced back to the 17th century in the Philippines. One notable example is Juan PUNAY, a prominent landowner and farmer in the province of Pampanga, who lived in the late 1600s.

During the 18th century, the PUNAY name appeared in several Spanish colonial records and manuscripts, indicating its presence across various regions of the Philippines. One such record is the "Libro de Tributos" (Tax Book) of 1765, which lists several families with the PUNAY surname in the town of Malolos, Bulacan.

In the 19th century, the PUNAY name gained more prominence, with several individuals making notable contributions. Miguel PUNAY (1812-1879) was a respected educator and author who wrote several textbooks on Philippine history and culture. Another notable figure was Maria PUNAY (1835-1912), a renowned artist and painter whose works depicted traditional Filipino life.

As the Philippines transitioned into the 20th century, the PUNAY surname continued to be represented across various fields. Pedro PUNAY (1890-1965) was a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in Manila, while Josefa PUNAY (1920-2005) was a celebrated writer and poet, known for her works that explored the Filipino identity.

Throughout the centuries, the PUNAY surname has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Punay in the province of Ilocos Norte is believed to have been named after the surname, possibly due to the presence of natural springs in the area.

From its humble beginnings in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, the PUNAY surname has witnessed a rich and diverse history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various facets of society, including art, literature, education, and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Punay

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

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

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

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