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

Unthank, 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 Unthank surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Unthank in America

Unthank is the 49723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Unthank surname appeared 422 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 Unthank.

We can also compare 2010 data for Unthank 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 Unthank

The surname Unthank originated in England during the late medieval period. It derived from the Old English words "un" meaning "not" and "thanc" meaning "thanks" or "gratitude." The name likely referred to someone perceived as ungrateful or unappreciative.

Unthank was initially concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Northumberland and Durham. Early records show variations in spelling, including Unthank, Unthank, and Unthanke. The name appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland in 1296, demonstrating its presence in the region during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Unthank, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another early record is of William Unthank, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland in 1336.

The Unthank surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Unthank in Derbyshire and Unthank in Northumberland. These place names may have influenced the adoption or spread of the surname in those areas.

Notably, the Unthank surname appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. However, the specific entry or context is not widely documented.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Unthank surname:

1. John Unthank (c. 1500 - 1577), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Babergh in Suffolk.
2. Thomas Unthank (1551 - 1622), an English landowner and member of Parliament for Appleby in Westmorland.
3. Elizabeth Unthank (1638 - 1714), a Quaker leader and preacher from Northumberland, known for her involvement in religious disputes.
4. William Unthank (1798 - 1859), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a merchant in Australia.
5. John Unthank (1839 - 1916), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Seattle, Washington, from 1892 to 1894.

While the Unthank surname may not be among the most prevalent in modern times, its origins and historical records provide insights into its unique meaning and significance in England's past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Unthank

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

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

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

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