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

Unklesbay, 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 Unklesbay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unklesbay in America

Unklesbay is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unklesbay surname appeared 116 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 Unklesbay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unklesbay 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 Unklesbay

The surname UNKLESBAY has its origins in the northern English county of Yorkshire, with earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from a locational name, referring to a small hamlet or village that no longer exists or has changed its name over time.

One theory suggests that UNKLESBAY is a corruption of an Old English phrase meaning "the uncle's bay" or "the uncle's inlet," possibly referring to a secluded bay or cove near the settlement where the name originated. Another possibility is that it stems from a combination of the Old English words "uncle" and "bæc," meaning a ridge or hill, indicating a location connected to a relative's elevated homestead.

The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Ripon, Yorkshire, where a William Unklesbay is listed as a baptism in 1591. Around the same time, a John Unklesbay is mentioned in the court rolls of the manor of Knaresborough, also in Yorkshire, in 1597.

In the 17th century, the UNKLESBAY name appears in various records across northern England. Notably, a Richard Unklesbay was a prominent merchant in the city of York, mentioned in guild records from 1623 to 1642. Another individual, Thomas Unklesbay, was a yeoman farmer in the village of Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales, as recorded in the Hearth Tax returns of 1672.

As the centuries progressed, the UNKLESBAY surname spread to other parts of England and beyond. One notable bearer was Sir Robert Unklesbay (1758-1832), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars and was later appointed Governor of the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth.

Other historical figures include Elizabeth Unklesbay (1795-1872), a prominent author and philanthropist from Lancashire, and James Unklesbay (1814-1891), a renowned architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

In the late 19th century, a branch of the UNKLESBAY family emigrated to the United States, with records showing a John Unklesbay (1867-1942) settling in Ohio and working as a steel mill worker.

While the exact origins of the UNKLESBAY surname remain somewhat unclear, its history can be traced back to the northern regions of England, where it likely originated as a locational name reflecting the unique geography and settlements of the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unklesbay

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

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

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

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