Find out how popular the last name Sonnleitner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sonnleitner.
An occupational surname indicating someone who lived near a small sunny dale or valley.
Sonnleitner, 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 Sonnleitner surname is from the 2010 census data.
Sonnleitner is the 111426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Sonnleitner surname appeared 158 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 Sonnleitner.
We can also compare 2010 data for Sonnleitner 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 | 111426 | 104257 | 6.65% |
| Count | 158 | 159 | -0.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.06 | -18.18% |
The surname Sonnleitner is of German origin, originating in the region of Bavaria in southern Germany during the Middle Ages. It is a locational surname, derived from the placename "Sonnleitn," which translates to "sunny slope" or "sunny path." This suggests that the name likely originated from a family that lived on or near a sunny hillside or path.
The earliest recorded instances of the Sonnleitner surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various historical records and documents from the region. One notable example is Johann Sonnleitner, a landowner and farmer who was mentioned in a land registry from the village of Oberndorf in 1368.
Throughout the centuries, the Sonnleitner name has appeared in various forms and spellings, such as Sonnleitner, Sonnleidner, Sonnleittner, and Sonnleuter, reflecting the regional variations in dialects and record-keeping practices.
In the late 15th century, a notable figure named Hans Sonnleitner was a respected craftsman and woodcarver in the city of Augsburg. His intricate woodcarvings adorned several churches and buildings in the region, and his work is still celebrated today as an important part of Bavarian cultural heritage.
During the 17th century, the Sonnleitner family played a significant role in the agricultural and viticultural development of the region around the town of Kitzingen. Johann Georg Sonnleitner (1623-1687) was a prominent vintner and landowner whose vineyards produced high-quality wines that were sought after by the local nobility.
In the 19th century, a famous composer and musician named Franz Xaver Sonnleitner (1805-1878) gained recognition for his contributions to Bavarian folk music. His compositions and arrangements of traditional songs and dances helped preserve the region's rich musical heritage.
Another notable figure was Katharina Sonnleitner (1848-1919), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in Munich and fought for equal educational opportunities for women during a time when such efforts were groundbreaking.
While the Sonnleitner surname has its roots in Bavaria, it has since spread to other parts of Germany and beyond, carried by families who migrated or established new branches throughout the centuries. Today, the name remains a testament to its origins, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Bavarian region.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sonnleitner.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sonnleitner was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 94.94% | 150 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
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 Sonnleitner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.94% | 98.11% | -3.28% |
| Black | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
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 Sonnleitner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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