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

Unda, 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 Unda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unda in America

Unda is the 82044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unda surname appeared 230 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 Unda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unda 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 Unda

The surname UNDA has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the Basque region of Spain and France. It is believed to have derived from the Basque word "unda," meaning "wave" or "swell," suggesting a possible connection to individuals who lived near bodies of water or engaged in maritime activities.

One of the earliest known records of the UNDA surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in a cartulary (a medieval manuscript containing transcripts of charters and other legal documents) from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain. This cartulary mentioned a certain "Sancho Unda" who was involved in a legal dispute over land rights.

In the 14th century, the UNDA surname was also documented in the Libro del Monasterio de Piedra (Book of the Monastery of Piedra), a historical record from the Cistercian monastery located in Nuévalos, Aragón. This record referenced a "Juan Unda," who was a prominent landowner in the region during that time.

One notable individual bearing the UNDA surname was Juan de Unda y Reguera (1508-1572), a Spanish Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Burgos from 1564 until his death. He was known for his contributions to the religious and intellectual life of the city, as well as his role in the construction of the Cathedral of Burgos.

Another historically significant figure with the UNDA surname was Pedro de Unda y Cárdenas (1572-1645), a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Philippines from 1635 to 1644. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Spanish East Indies against Dutch and Portuguese incursions.

In the 18th century, the UNDA surname was also present in the Basque Country of France, as evidenced by the birth of Jean-Pierre Unda (1725-1802) in the town of Sare. He later became a notable figure in the French Revolution, serving as a member of the National Convention and participating in the trial of King Louis XVI.

Over time, variations and alternative spellings of the UNDA surname emerged, such as Unda-Quintana, Undabarrena, and Undurraga, reflecting regional linguistic influences and personal preferences. Additionally, the surname has been associated with various place names, including the town of Unda in the province of Navarra, Spain, and the Unda River, a tributary of the Ebro River in the Basque Country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unda

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

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

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

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