Find out how popular the last name Sunyak is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sunyak.
A Ukrainian surname derived from the dialectal noun "sunyak", meaning "marten" or "weasel".
Sunyak, 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 Sunyak surname is from the 2010 census data.
Sunyak is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Sunyak surname appeared 103 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 Sunyak.
We can also compare 2010 data for Sunyak 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 | 157234 | 144908 | 8.16% |
| Count | 103 | 105 | -1.92% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.03 | 0.04 | -28.57% |
The surname SUNYAK is believed to have originated in the region of Ruthenia, which is now part of modern-day Ukraine. It dates back to the 15th century and is thought to be derived from the Old Ruthenian word "suny," meaning "sleep" or "dream." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was known for sleeping excessively or had a tendency to daydream.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SUNYAK can be found in a document from the city of Lviv, dated 1487. The document mentions a man named Petro SUNYAK, who was a merchant trading in grains and spices. This provides evidence that the name was in use during the late medieval period in the region.
In the 16th century, the SUNYAK name appears to have spread to other parts of Eastern Europe, including Poland and Belarus. A notable figure from this time was Andrii SUNYAK, a Ukrainian Cossack who fought against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the mid-1600s. He was renowned for his bravery and military tactics.
The 18th century saw the emergence of a prominent SUNYAK family in the town of Khotyn, located in modern-day Ukraine. This family produced several notable figures, including Hryhorii SUNYAK, a renowned scholar and philosopher born in 1732. His works on ethics and social theory were widely studied in universities across Eastern Europe.
Another notable figure was Mariya SUNYAK, born in 1805 in the village of Kozelets, Ukraine. She was a respected folk artist and embroiderer, known for her intricate and vibrant designs. Her works were showcased in various exhibitions and are now preserved in museums as examples of traditional Ukrainian folk art.
In the late 19th century, the SUNYAK name gained recognition in the field of literature. Ivan SUNYAK, born in 1868 in the city of Lviv, was a celebrated Ukrainian writer and poet. His works explored themes of national identity, cultural heritage, and the struggles of the Ukrainian people under foreign rule.
While the SUNYAK name has its roots in Eastern Europe, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the historic region of Ruthenia, where it emerged as a surname derived from the Old Ruthenian language.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sunyak.
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 Sunyak was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 96.12% | 99 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 0.00% | 0 |
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 Sunyak has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.12% | 96.19% | -0.07% |
| Black | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 0.00% | (S)% | (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 Sunyak was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sunyak, please contact us.
We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.
If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!
<a href="https://namecensus.com/last-names/sunyak-surname-popularity/">Sunyak last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.
Simple as that.