Explore the Family Name Sonnenschein
The meaning of Sonnenschein
1. German: nickname for someone with a cheerful or warm disposition, from Middle High German sunne ‘sun’ + genitive -n + schīn ‘shine’. In part, it may be a topographic name for someone who lived at a place which caught the sun, or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house marked with the sign of the sun. 2. Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Sonnenschein ‘sunshine’. Some characteristic forenames: German Hans, Helmut. Jewish Ezriel, Gershon, Nurit.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sonnenschein in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the Sonnenschein surname saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 51,458, but by 2010 it had slipped to 53,316, representing a 3.61% drop in rank. The actual number of people with this surname however, showed a minor increase from 380 in 2000 to 388 in 2010. However, when considering the proportion per 100k individuals, the Sonnenschein name experienced a decrease of 7.14%, from 0.14 in 2000 to 0.13 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,458 | #53,316 | -3.61% |
| Count | 380 | 388 | 2.11% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.13 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sonnenschein
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of individuals with the Sonnenschein surname identified as White, both in 2000 (96.84%) and 2010 (96.91%). This represents a slight increase of 0.07%. The Hispanic community with this surname witnessed a marginal decrease from 1.58% in 2000 to 1.55% in 2010. No significant change was noted within other ethnic groups such as Asian/Pacific Islander, those identifying as two or more races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native, where the proportions remained at zero across both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.84% | 96.91% | 0.07% |
| Hispanic | 1.58% | 1.55% | -1.9% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |