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

Runyan, 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 Runyan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Runyan in America

Runyan is the 5518th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Runyan surname appeared 6,301 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Runyan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Runyan 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 Runyan

The surname RUNYAN has its origins in the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon cultures. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "rune" meaning a secret or mystery, and "an" meaning one. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who had knowledge of runes or was considered wise.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 11th century in England, where it appeared in various forms such as Runian, Runyhan, and Runeyan. These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling and pronunciation during that time period.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be early instances of the name, including Runwine and Runwi. However, the exact connection to the modern spelling of RUNYAN is unclear.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname RUNYAN was John Runyan, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1450. He was a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, the RUNYAN name appeared in various parish records and tax rolls across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Dorset. This suggests the name may have had a strong presence in the southwestern regions of the country during that time.

A notable bearer of the RUNYAN surname was Thomas Runyan (1575-1641), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on religious topics. He served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

During the 17th century, some members of the RUNYAN family emigrated to the American colonies, particularly in the mid-Atlantic and southern regions. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was Cornelius Runyan, who settled in New Jersey in the 1660s.

Another significant figure was William Runyan (1670-1737), a Quaker preacher and landowner in Pennsylvania. He was one of the founders of the community of Rancocas, and his descendants played an important role in the early settlement and development of the area.

In the 18th century, the RUNYAN name was well-established in various parts of the United States, with families living in states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina. Some notable individuals from this period include John Runyan (1725-1799), a Revolutionary War soldier from North Carolina, and James Runyan (1760-1835), a prominent businessman and landowner in Ohio.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Runyan

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

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

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

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