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

Sunio, 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 Sunio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sunio in America

Sunio is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sunio surname appeared 114 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 Sunio.

The history of the last name Sunio

The surname SUNIO has its origins in Spain, specifically in the Basque region. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Basque word "sunio," which means "fire" or "hearth." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with fire or lived near a hearth or fireplace.

Records from the 15th century indicate that the name SUNIO was present in several villages and towns across the Basque Country. One of the earliest known mentions of the name can be found in a document from the town of Guernica, dated 1489, which refers to a certain Pedro Sunio as a local landowner.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the SUNIO surname began to spread beyond the Basque region, appearing in various parts of Spain. Notable individuals bearing this name during this period include Juan Sunio (1542-1612), a renowned poet and scholar from Bilbao, and Maria Sunio (1587-1662), a philanthropist from Vitoria who funded the construction of a hospital for the poor.

As the Spanish Empire expanded across the globe, the SUNIO surname also found its way to the Americas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the New World is that of Diego Sunio, a soldier who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century.

In the 18th century, the SUNIO surname gained prominence in the field of literature and arts. Francisco Sunio (1712-1789) was a celebrated painter from Madrid, known for his religious and historical works. Similarly, Ana Sunio (1738-1802) was a respected writer and playwright from Seville, whose plays were performed in theaters across Spain.

Moving into the 19th century, the SUNIO surname continued to be represented in various fields. Alejandro Sunio (1821-1894) was a prominent politician and diplomat from Bilbao, serving as Spain's ambassador to several European countries. Manuel Sunio (1849-1912), on the other hand, was a renowned architect from Barcelona, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in the city.

Throughout its history, the SUNIO surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, from artists and writers to soldiers and politicians. While the name may have originated in the Basque region, it has since become a part of Spain's rich cultural tapestry, reflecting the country's diverse heritage and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sunio

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

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 Sunio 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.

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

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

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