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

Unke, 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 Unke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unke in America

Unke is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unke surname appeared 190 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 Unke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unke 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 Unke

The surname Unke has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "unk," which meant "us" or "our." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to denote a family or group affiliation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Unke can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval Saxon documents dating back to the 12th century. In this text, a person named "Unke de Misnia" is mentioned, indicating that the name was present in the region of Meissen, located in present-day Saxony, Germany.

During the 13th century, the surname Unke appeared in various records across the German-speaking regions of Europe. For instance, in 1247, a certain "Johannes Unke" was documented in the town of Lübeck, a prominent trading center in northern Germany.

The name Unke may also have connections to specific place names or localities. In the 14th century, the spelling "Uncken" was used to refer to a village near the town of Minden in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This could indicate a potential link between the surname and a geographic location.

One notable figure bearing the surname Unke was Johann Unke (1508-1572), a German theologian and Protestant reformer. He was a prominent figure in the Reformation movement and served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg.

Another individual of historical significance was Hans Unke (1555-1621), a German painter and engraver who was active in the late Renaissance period. His works, which included religious paintings and engravings, can be found in various collections across Europe.

In the 17th century, a certain Wilhelm Unke (1632-1704) made a name for himself as a renowned cartographer and surveyor. He was responsible for creating detailed maps of various regions in Germany and neighboring countries.

During the 18th century, the surname Unke was associated with several notable figures in the fields of literature and academia. One such individual was Johann Friedrich Unke (1714-1788), a German writer and philosopher who authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

Another prominent figure from this period was Christian Wilhelm Unke (1745-1819), a German botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the field of plant taxonomy. He is credited with describing and classifying numerous plant species found throughout Europe.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Unke has been present in various regions of Germany and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. While its origins remain rooted in the Old German language, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical fabric of Germany and neighboring regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unke

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

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

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

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