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

Sonney, 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 Sonney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sonney in America

Sonney is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sonney surname appeared 189 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 Sonney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sonney 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 Sonney

The surname Sonney has its origins in northern France, specifically in the region of Normandy, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "sonet," which means a small bell or chime, potentially indicating that the original bearers of this name may have been bell-ringers or had some association with church bells.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sonney surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Sonais," and it is speculated that this individual may have been a Norman soldier who accompanied William during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name Sonney appeared in various historical records across northern France and England, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Sonny, Sonnie, and Sonnay. This was common during that era due to the inconsistencies in written documentation and the phonetic transcription of names.

Notably, in the 14th century, a prominent figure named Jean Sonney was recorded as a respected merchant and landowner in the city of Rouen, Normandy. Another individual, Richard Sonney, was mentioned in the court records of King Edward III of England in the year 1348, indicating that members of this family had established themselves in England by that time.

As the name spread across different regions, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, in the village of Sonney-en-Puisaye, located in the Burgundy region of France, the surname is believed to have derived from the local toponym, suggesting a connection between the name and the geographic location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Sonney surname, including:

1. William Sonney (c. 1520 - 1592), an English playwright and poet during the Elizabethan era.
2. Marie-Anne Sonney (1667 - 1740), a French botanist and herbalist renowned for her contributions to the study of medicinal plants.
3. Jacques Sonney (1789 - 1856), a French engineer and architect who designed several notable landmarks in Paris, including the Pont des Arts bridge.
4. Charlotte Sonney (1820 - 1895), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist, known for her involvement in the Underground Railroad.
5. Henri Sonney (1874 - 1949), a renowned French painter and sculptor, whose works are displayed in various museums across Europe.

While the Sonney surname has its roots in northern France, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchanges that have shaped human history over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sonney

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

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

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

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