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

Punsalan, 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 Punsalan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Punsalan in America

Punsalan is the 55741st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Punsalan surname appeared 368 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 Punsalan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Punsalan 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 Punsalan

The surname Punsalan originates from the Philippines, tracing its roots back to the 16th century during the Spanish colonial era. It is believed to have derived from the Tagalog words "punso" meaning "source" or "origin," and "lan" being a suffix indicating location or place. This suggests the name may have initially referred to a specific place of origin or a location associated with a source of water or a river's headwaters.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Punsalan name can be found in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos, a historical document compiled by Spanish friars in the Philippines in the late 16th century. This catalog served as a record of the native Filipino families who converted to Catholicism and adopted Spanish-style surnames during the Spanish colonial period.

Notably, the Punsalan name appears in the 1850 Catalogo de Las Principales Familias de Manila, a historical record of prominent families in the city of Manila. This suggests that by the mid-19th century, the Punsalan family had established itself as a notable lineage within the capital city's social and economic spheres.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Punsalan was Mariano Punsalan, a Filipino lawyer and statesman who lived from 1803 to 1878. He played a significant role in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule and served as a member of the revolutionary government's cabinet.

Another notable figure was Filomena Punsalan, a Filipino educator and women's rights advocate who lived from 1855 to 1935. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Manila and was a pioneering figure in promoting women's education and empowerment in the Philippines.

In the early 20th century, Pedro Punsalan (1892-1967) gained recognition as a prominent Filipino painter and sculptor. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life and Filipino folklore, are celebrated as important contributions to the development of modern Filipino art.

Manuel Punsalan (1908-1988) was a Filipino writer and journalist who played a pivotal role in shaping the country's literary landscape. He was known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the common people.

In more recent history, Gregorio Punsalan (1920-2007) was a respected Filipino diplomat and statesman who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, during the latter half of the 20th century.

While the Punsalan name has its origins in the Philippines, it has since spread globally due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the detailed history and significance of this surname remain deeply rooted in the Philippines' rich cultural heritage and its journey through the colonial era and into modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Punsalan

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

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

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

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