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

Terhune, 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 Terhune surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Terhune in America

Terhune is the 11402nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Terhune surname appeared 2,766 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Terhune.

We can also compare 2010 data for Terhune 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 Terhune

The surname Terhune is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the 17th century in the Netherlands. It is derived from the Dutch phrase "ter hune," which means "at the corner" or "at the little house." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for a family or individual residing in a particular location or dwelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the Terhune surname can be found in Dutch records from the late 1600s. It is believed that some of the first individuals bearing this name migrated to the American colonies, particularly New Netherlands (present-day New York and New Jersey), during the 17th and 18th centuries.

One notable individual with the Terhune surname was Albert Payson Terhune, an American author and breeder of collies born in 1872. He is best known for his numerous books and stories featuring collies, including the famous novel "Lad: A Dog." Terhune's works played a significant role in popularizing the breed and promoting responsible dog ownership.

Another prominent figure was Mary Virginia Terhune, also known as Marion Harland, who was born in 1830. She was a prolific writer and editor, publishing numerous novels, cookbooks, and advice manuals. Terhune's works were widely read and influential during the late 19th century, particularly her contributions to domestic literature and women's issues.

In the 18th century, the Terhune name appeared in various historical documents and records related to the Dutch settlement of the New Netherlands region. For example, Johannes Terhune was listed as a landowner in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the early 1700s, suggesting the family's early presence in the area.

Interestingly, the Terhune surname has also been linked to several place names in the Netherlands and the United States. In the Dutch province of Friesland, there is a village called Terhune, which may have influenced the origin or spelling of the surname. Additionally, there are places named Terhune in New Jersey and Indiana, likely named after early settlers with the Terhune surname.

Other notable individuals with the Terhune surname include William Terhune, a 19th-century American politician and judge from New Jersey, and John Terhune, a Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Terhune

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

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

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

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