Sonnemann last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Sonnemann

A German surname alluding to someone related to the sun or daylight.

Sonnemann, 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 Sonnemann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sonnemann in America

Sonnemann is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sonnemann surname appeared 166 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 Sonnemann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sonnemann 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 107134 98770 8.12%
Count 166 170 -2.38%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.06 0.00%

The history of the last name Sonnemann

The surname Sonnemann is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, which was a significant center of cultural and linguistic development during that time.

Sonnemann is a compound word derived from the German words "Sonne" (sun) and "Mann" (man). This combination likely referred to an individual who worked outdoors or had a sun-related occupation, such as a farmer, gardener, or even a soldier exposed to the sun during military campaigns.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sonnemann surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony. This suggests that the name had already spread beyond its Bavarian origins by that time.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Johann Sonnemann (c. 1430-1492) was mentioned in the annals of the city of Augsburg. He was a respected merchant and guild member, indicating that the Sonnemann name had achieved a certain level of prominence within the urban bourgeoisie.

During the Renaissance period, the Sonnemann family produced several notable scholars and intellectuals. One such figure was Martin Sonnemann (1548-1612), a Lutheran theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious topics and contributed to the development of Protestant thought in Germany.

In the 18th century, the Sonnemann name gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Christoph Sonnemann (1761-1827), a celebrated German writer and playwright. His works, which often explored themes of social commentary and satire, were widely acclaimed and helped establish him as a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time.

Another significant figure bearing the Sonnemann surname was Friedrich Sonnemann (1837-1919), a German politician and journalist. He played a pivotal role in the formation of the German Social Democratic Party and was a vocal advocate for workers' rights and social reforms.

As the Sonnemann family spread across different regions of Germany and beyond, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some alternative spellings included Sonnenmann, Sonneman, and Sonemann, reflecting the fluidity of language and the influence of local dialects.

Throughout its long history, the surname Sonnemann has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, politicians, and tradespeople. While its origins remain rooted in the sun and outdoor professions, the name has transcended its humble beginnings to become a prominent part of German cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sonnemann

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

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 Sonnemann was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.77% 154
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.61% 6

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 Sonnemann has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 92.77% 98.24% -5.73%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 3.61% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Sonnemann last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 30, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/sonnemann-surname-popularity/.

"Sonnemann last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/sonnemann-surname-popularity/. Accessed 30 June, 2025

Sonnemann last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/sonnemann-surname-popularity/.

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