Sunderland
From a place name meaning "sundered land," referring to land that is divided or separated from the mainland.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,107 Americans carry the last name Sunderland. That puts it at #7,572 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.49 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 67,115 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sunderland surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.1K
1 in 67,115
Census rank
#7,572
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,387 bearers of the surname Sunderland in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.49 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7572nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sunderland, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sunderland
The surname Sunderland is of English origin, derived from the town of Sunderland in County Durham, England. The name Sunderland itself is thought to come from the Old English words "sunor" meaning "to divide" and "land", referring to the land divided or separated by the River Wear.
Sunderland is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Sunderlande", indicating the name's long history in the region. The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century, with a John de Sunderland appearing in records from 1275.
In the 14th century, a William de Sunderland was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1344. The surname also appears in other medieval records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Thomas de Sunderland is noted.
One notable bearer of the Sunderland name was Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland (1641-1702), a prominent statesman and politician during the reigns of Charles II, James II, and William III. Another was Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland (1620-1643), who fought for the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland (1675-1722), served as Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for the Southern Department. His son, Robert Spencer, 4th Earl of Sunderland (1701-1781), was a noted patron of the arts and an influential figure in the Whig party.
Another prominent bearer of the Sunderland name was Samuel Sunderland (1628-1691), an English Puritan clergyman and author who served as a chaplain to Charles II and was known for his opposition to the Church of England's practices.
While the surname Sunderland originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the town of Sunderland in County Durham, where the name has been documented for centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sunderland
Among Census respondents with the surname Sunderland, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Sunderland bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sunderland surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Black or African American1.9%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sunderland surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,572 | #7,572 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,387 | 4,387 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.49 | 1.49 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sunderland bearers went from 4,387 to 4,387 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,572 to #7,572.
FAQ
Sunderland surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sunderland?
The surname Sunderland holds position #7,572 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,107 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.49 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sunderland surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sunderland, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.