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

Unni, 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 Unni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unni in America

Unni is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unni surname appeared 148 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 Unni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unni 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 Unni

The surname UNNI is of Indian origin, specifically from the southern state of Kerala. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century AD. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Unni," which means "young" or "small."

In ancient Kerala, the UNNI surname was commonly used among the Nair community, which was a prominent warrior and landowning caste. It is thought that the name was initially given as a title or honorific to individuals who displayed valor or bravery in battle at a young age.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname UNNI can be found in the Sangam literature, a body of ancient Tamil literature dating back to the early centuries AD. The name appears in various poems and texts, often associated with warriors and chieftains from the region.

During the 14th century, the UNNI surname gained prominence in the Kingdom of Calicut (present-day Kozhikode), where several members of the Nair community held influential positions in the royal court. One notable figure from this period was Unni Nair, a revered military commander who served under the Zamorin (ruler) of Calicut in the late 14th century.

Another historical figure bearing the UNNI surname was Unni Gowda, a prominent landlord and philanthropist from the 16th century. He was renowned for his generosity and contributions to the construction of temples and educational institutions in the region.

In the 18th century, Unni Moodath, a renowned poet and scholar, gained recognition for his literary works in the Malayalam language. His poems and writings shed light on the cultural and social aspects of Kerala during that era.

Moving into the 19th century, Unni Krishnan Nair was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement. Born in 1886, he was a vocal advocate for social reforms and played a significant role in the fight against the British rule.

Throughout its history, the UNNI surname has been associated with various notable individuals, from warriors and chieftains to scholars and social reformers. While its origin can be traced back to ancient Kerala, the name has since been adopted by people across various regions of India and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unni

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

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

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

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