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

Runey, 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 Runey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Runey in America

Runey is the 98099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Runey surname appeared 185 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 Runey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Runey 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 Runey

The surname Runey is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "rune," which means a "secret or mystery." It is believed to have emerged in the 11th century and was initially used to denote someone who had knowledge of ancient runes or could interpret their hidden meanings.

One of the earliest known references to the name Runey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Runi" in the county of Norfolk. This suggests that the name may have been prevalent in that region during the Norman era.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname Runey was mainly concentrated in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex in eastern England. Various spellings of the name were used, including Runie, Runy, and Runney, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Runey (c. 1320-1390), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk. His descendants continued to hold significant influence in the region for several generations.

During the Renaissance period, the name Runey gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Thomas Runey (1495-1562), a distinguished English diplomat and scholar. He served as an ambassador to several European courts and was also known for his expertise in classical literature and languages.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Runey (1550-1620), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Essex. She established several charitable foundations and endowments that supported education and assistance for the poor in her local community.

In the 18th century, the name gained literary significance with the works of poet and playwright William Runey (1720-1785). His celebrated works included several satirical plays and a collection of poems that explored themes of love and nature.

One of the most renowned bearers of the Runey name was Sir Robert Runey (1810-1892), a renowned British explorer and adventurer. He led several expeditions to Africa and the Arctic regions, documenting his travels in bestselling books that captivated Victorian audiences.

While the name Runey may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and associations with scholars, landowners, and explorers continue to reflect the enigmatic and intriguing origins of this English surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Runey

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

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

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

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