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

Tunk, 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 Tunk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tunk in America

Tunk is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tunk surname appeared 100 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 Tunk.

The history of the last name Tunk

The surname Tunk is believed to have originated in England, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be a variation of the Old English word "tunge," meaning "tongue" or "language." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was particularly talkative or skilled in communication.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tunk can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dated 1315, where a Thomas Tunk is mentioned. This indicates that the name was present in the northern regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records and tax rolls, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1524, where a Robert Tunk is listed. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.

The Tunk surname is also associated with several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. For example, the village of Tunstall, derived from the Old English words "tun" (meaning "farm" or "settlement") and "stallr" (meaning "wooded area"), may have contributed to the development of the surname.

One notable individual bearing the Tunk surname was Sir Thomas Tunk, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 16th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1552 and played a significant role in the trade and commerce of the city during that time.

Another historical figure with the Tunk surname was William Tunk (c. 1610-1680), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a treatise on the Lord's Prayer.

In the 18th century, John Tunk (1721-1799) was a notable English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in and around London.

The Tunk surname also has connections to the arts, with the painter and illustrator Mary Tunk (1822-1901) being a notable figure in Victorian England. Her works were widely exhibited and included portraits, landscapes, and book illustrations.

Finally, Henry Tunk (1856-1923) was a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early automobile designs and held several patents related to engine technology.

While the surname Tunk may not be among the most common in England, its long history and associations with various professions and notable individuals highlight its enduring presence within the country's cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tunk

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

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

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

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