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

Zuni, 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 Zuni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuni in America

Zuni is the 91221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuni surname appeared 202 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 Zuni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuni 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 Zuni

The surname Zuni originates from the southwestern region of the United States, specifically tied to the Indigenous Zuni people of New Mexico. While the surname itself may not be ancient in a European sense, it is deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Zuni tribe. The name Zuni is derived from a Spanish adaptation of the Keresan word "ṣʔi:ni," which possibly means "person" or "the people." This term was first introduced by Spanish explorers in the 16th century when they encountered the Zuni people.

The earliest written references to the name Zuni appear in Spanish colonial records from the late 1500s. The Spaniards documented the Zuni people and their settlements during their expeditions in what is now the American Southwest. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the reports of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition between 1540 and 1542, where the name was used to describe the tribe and their pueblo.

Over the centuries, the Zuni people retained their cultural and linguistic heritage, with the name Zuni being a constant identifier. As Spanish rule gave way to Mexican and subsequently American governance, the cultural and geographic isolation of the Zuni ensured that their name remained distinctly associated with them. Unlike many European surnames, which evolved due to changing languages, the Zuni name remained relatively stable due to its Native American origin.

One of the most significant historical figures bearing the surname Zuni is We'wha (1849–1896). We'wha was a renowned Zuni potter, weaver, and cultural ambassador who played a vital role in promoting Zuni art and culture to the American public in the late 19th century. Another notable individual is Zuni artist Andrew Tsihnahjinnie (1916–2000), known for his contributions to Native American painting and his work in documenting Zuni traditions.

Among the scholars of Zuni heritage, Edmund Ladd (1938–2003) stands out. Ladd was an influential archaeologist and ethnologist who contributed extensively to the understanding of Zuni culture and history. In contemporary times, artist and jeweler Myron Panteah, born in 1959, has gained recognition for his work that blends traditional Zuni design with modern techniques.

Archaeologist and Zuni tribal member attttttt Ann Chavarria (born in 1960), notwithstanding her relatively recent activity, also holds an important place due to her dedication to preserving Zuni heritage through her scholarly work.

Historical references to the surname Zuni are less focused on the name’s evolution and more on documenting the presence and significance of the Zuni people in a broader cultural context. The name Zuni, therefore, is less about an individual lineage and more about a collective identity that has persisted through centuries of external pressures and internal continuity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuni

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

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

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

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