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

Runchey, 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 Runchey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Runchey in America

Runchey is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Runchey surname appeared 121 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 Runchey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Runchey 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 Runchey

The surname Runchey is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "runcian" and "heh," which together mean "a high, round hill." This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive one, likely referring to a person who lived near or on a prominent hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a "Robert de Runchy" is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the late 12th century, although the spelling was slightly different from the modern form.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Runcheye," "Runchey," and "Runchie," in several county records, including those of Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. These variations in spelling were common during that time, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

The Runchey name has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Runchy Hill in Gloucestershire and Runchey Meadows in Worcestershire. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa, further reinforcing the connection between the name and its potential geographical origins.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the Runchey surname include:

1. Sir William Runchey (c. 1330 – 1395), a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was awarded lands in Gloucestershire for his service.

2. John Runchey (c. 1450 – 1521), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Worcestershire, who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

3. Elizabeth Runchey (c. 1555 – 1623), an influential Puritan writer and advocate for religious reform in England during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

4. Thomas Runchey (1621 – 1688), an English colonist who was among the early settlers of Virginia in the 1640s and played a role in establishing some of the first tobacco plantations in the colony.

5. Mary Runchey (1765 – 1842), a renowned English gardener and horticulturist who designed and maintained several notable gardens in the county of Surrey during the Georgian era.

While the Runchey surname may not be as common as some others, its long history and association with various locations and individuals throughout the centuries demonstrate its enduring presence in England's rich cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Runchey

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

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

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

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