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

Tunis, 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 Tunis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tunis in America

Tunis is the 24665th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tunis surname appeared 1,012 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 Tunis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tunis 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 Tunis

The surname Tunis is believed to have originated in Tunisia, a country in North Africa. It is thought to have derived from the Arabic name for the city of Tunis, which was an important center of trade and culture during medieval times.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Tunis can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records. It is possible that the name was initially used to refer to individuals who hailed from the city of Tunis or the surrounding region.

During the Middle Ages, the city of Tunis was a thriving hub of commerce and cultural exchange, attracting merchants, scholars, and travelers from across the Mediterranean region. As a result, the name Tunis may have been adopted by individuals who had connections to the city or its surrounding areas.

One notable historical figure who bore the surname Tunis was Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Tunisi, a renowned mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 13th century. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and wrote several influential treatises on astronomy and other scientific subjects.

Another individual of note was Muhammed al-Tunisi, a 16th-century scholar and traveler who authored a detailed account of his journey from Tunis to Egypt and the Holy Land. His writings provide valuable insights into the cultural and social conditions of the time.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Ibrahim al-Tunisi served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, playing a crucial role in the administration of the empire's affairs.

The surname Tunis also appears in various historical records from other parts of the world, suggesting that individuals with this name may have migrated or traveled to different regions over the centuries.

One example is the English scholar and traveler Thomas Tunis, who lived in the 18th century and documented his experiences in the Middle East and North Africa. His writings shed light on the customs and cultures of the regions he visited.

While the surname Tunis has its roots in North Africa, it has since spread to various parts of the world, likely due to migration, trade, and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient city of Tunis and the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tunis

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

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

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

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