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

Runciman, 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 Runciman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Runciman in America

Runciman is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Runciman surname appeared 118 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 Runciman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Runciman 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 Runciman

The surname Runciman has its origins in the northern regions of England and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "runceman," which referred to a person who served as a runner or messenger. This occupation was particularly common during medieval times when messages and correspondence were hand-delivered over long distances.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Runciman can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Runcman" in the county of Yorkshire. This historical record suggests that the name was already established in northern England by the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Runceman, Runcyman, and Runciman. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Runciman was Walter Runciman (c. 1470 - c. 1535), a Scottish clergyman and reformer who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was a strong advocate for the translation of the Bible into the vernacular language and worked closely with John Knox.

In the 17th century, John Runciman (1625 - 1686) was a prominent Scottish merchant and landowner who acquired substantial estates in Fife and Angus. His descendants continued to hold influential positions in Scottish society for generations.

The Runciman family also produced several notable artists, including the brothers Alexander Runciman (1736 - 1785) and John Runciman (1744 - 1768), who were among the founders of the Royal Scottish Academy. Alexander, in particular, gained recognition for his historical paintings and contributions to the development of Scottish art.

Another significant figure with the surname was Walter Runciman (1870 - 1949), a British politician and businessman who served as President of the Board of Trade and later as Secretary of State for Air in the late 1930s. He played a crucial role in negotiating the Runciman Mission, which aimed to resolve the Arab-Jewish conflict in British Mandatory Palestine.

Throughout history, the Runciman surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Runciman Moor in Yorkshire and Runciman Farm in Northumberland, further reflecting the family's deep roots in northern England and Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Runciman

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

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

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

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