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

Unlu, 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 Unlu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unlu in America

Unlu is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unlu surname appeared 115 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 Unlu.

The history of the last name Unlu

The surname Unlu has its origins in Turkey, where it is believed to have first emerged during the 13th century. It is derived from the Turkish word "ünlü," which translates to "famous" or "renowned." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who had achieved a certain level of prominence or recognition within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Unlu surname can be found in the Ottoman archives, where it appears in a document dated to the late 15th century. This document references an individual named Mehmet Unlu, who was a prominent merchant operating in the city of Bursa during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Unlu name gained further recognition when it was associated with a family of scholars and philosophers hailing from the city of Konya. This family produced several notable figures, including Abdurrahman Unlu (1520-1589), who was celebrated for his contributions to the study of Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

During the 17th century, the Unlu surname became closely tied to the city of Istanbul, where several members of the family held influential positions within the Ottoman administration. One such individual was Hasan Unlu (1630-1702), who served as the chief architect of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, one of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district.

As the Ottoman Empire expanded its reach across the region, the Unlu name spread to various parts of the Balkans and the Caucasus. In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Ali Unlu (1815-1891) emerged in the city of Baku, where he played a pivotal role in the development of the region's oil industry.

Another notable individual bearing the Unlu surname was Mustafa Unlu (1880-1957), a celebrated poet and literary figure from the city of Diyarbakir. His works, which explored themes of love, nature, and social commentary, continue to be widely studied and appreciated within Turkish literary circles.

It is worth noting that while the Unlu surname has its roots in Turkey, it has also gained a presence in various other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of this name remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of Turkish history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unlu

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

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

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

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