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

Thune, 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 Thune surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Thune in America

Thune is the 41038th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Thune surname appeared 531 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 Thune.

We can also compare 2010 data for Thune 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 Thune

The surname THUNE has its roots in Germany, where it originated in the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "thun," meaning "to do" or "to make." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person's occupation or trade.

In the early medieval period, surnames were often derived from a person's place of origin, occupation, physical characteristics, or a distinguishing trait. The THUNE surname could have been given to someone who was known for their diligence or skill in a particular craft or profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the THUNE name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the state of Saxony, Germany. In this collection, a certain "Johannes Thune" is mentioned in a document dated 1345.

Another notable historical reference is in the Urkundenbuch der Stadt Hildesheim, a collection of records from the city of Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. Here, a "Hinricus Thune" is documented in the year 1389.

Over the centuries, the THUNE surname has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Thun, Thunen, and Thunne. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable bearer of the THUNE surname was Johannes Thune (c. 1460 - 1523), a German scholar and humanist who served as a professor at the University of Leipzig. Another was Matthias Thune (1580 - 1635), a German Protestant theologian and pastor who played a significant role in the religious controversies of his time.

In the 17th century, the surname can be found in records from the town of Norderney, located in the German state of Lower Saxony. One such record mentions a "Gerd Thune," who was a landowner and farmer in the area.

Moving into the 18th century, a notable figure was Johann Christian Thune (1738 - 1828), a German painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits. He was a member of the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts.

In the 19th century, Karl Thune (1821 - 1888) was a German jurist and politician who served as a member of the Reichstag, the parliament of the German Empire.

While these are just a few examples, the THUNE surname has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, reflecting its German origins and the diverse paths its bearers have taken.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Thune

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

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

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

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