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

Strunk, 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 Strunk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Strunk in America

Strunk is the 4374th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Strunk surname appeared 8,129 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Strunk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Strunk 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 Strunk

The surname Strunk has its origins in Germany, emerging in the 14th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "strunk," which translates to "tree trunk" or "stump." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent tree trunk or stump, or perhaps worked with wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval town in Bavaria, dating back to the late 1300s. These records mention a family with the surname Strunk residing in the area.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various historical documents across central and southern Germany, often associated with towns and villages near forested areas or areas with a significant timber industry. For instance, the name is found in records from the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, where forestry and woodworking were important economic activities.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Hans Strunk, a woodcarver and sculptor active in Nuremberg in the late 15th century. His intricate wooden carvings adorned several churches and buildings in the city, showcasing the craftsmanship that may have been associated with the name.

In the 16th century, the name spread to other parts of Europe as individuals with the surname migrated or settled in new regions. One such individual was Wilhelm Strunk, a German merchant who settled in Amsterdam in the late 1500s and established a successful trading business.

By the 17th century, the name had also made its way to the American colonies, with the first recorded instance being Johann Strunk, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 as part of the German immigration to the region. He established a farm in what is now Montgomery County and became a respected figure in the local German community.

Another notable bearer of the surname was William Strunk Jr., an American professor of English at Cornell University in the early 20th century. He co-authored the influential writing guide "The Elements of Style" with his former student E.B. White, which became a widely used reference for writers and editors.

Over the centuries, variations of the spelling emerged, such as Strunck, Struncke, and Stronck, reflecting regional differences and the evolution of language. However, the core meaning and origin of the surname remained rooted in its German heritage and association with trees and woodworking.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Strunk

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

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

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

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