Explore the Family Name Sonnier
The meaning of Sonnier
1. Altered form of French Saulnier, an occupational name for an extractor or seller of salt. 2. French: occupational name for a bell-ringer, Old French sonnier (from Late Latin sonarius, an agent derivative of sonare ‘to ring’). Compare Sonier. Some characteristic forenames: French Alcee, Antoine, Minos, Remy, Alcide, Amie, Armand, Calice, Clovis, Donat, Emile.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sonnier in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Sonnier has seen a marginal decrease in popularity over a decade. In 2000, this name ranked 5573, while by 2010 it moved to 5715, reflecting a small decline of 2.55%. However, the actual count of individuals bearing the Sonnier surname showed an increase from 5719 in 2000 to 6068 in 2010, marking a growth rate of 6.1%. The proportion per 100,000 people also dipped slightly by 2.83%, moving from 2.12 in 2000 to 2.06 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,573 | #5,715 | -2.55% |
| Count | 5,719 | 6,068 | 6.1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.12 | 2.06 | -2.83% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sonnier
In terms of ethnic identity associated with the Sonnier surname, as per the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. The majority of those with the Sonnier surname are White, making up 78.18% in 2000 and slightly declining to 75.51% in 2010. The second highest ethnicity group is Black, which saw a rise from 18.52% in 2000 to 20.15% in 2010. The Hispanic representation also increased significantly, growing by 71.43% over a decade. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a slight decrease, while those reporting two or more races experienced a growth of 20.63%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.18% | 75.51% | -3.42% |
| Black | 18.52% | 20.15% | 8.8% |
| Hispanic | 1.19% | 2.04% | 71.43% |
| Two or More Races | 1.26% | 1.52% | 20.63% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.47% | 0.41% | -12.77% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.38% | 0.36% | -5.26% |
Sonnier ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Sonnier is French & German, which comprises 37.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (35.4%) and Spanish & Portuguese (8.7%). Additional ancestries include Indigenous American, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Italian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 37.9% |
| British & Irish | 35.4% |
| Spanish & Portuguese | 8.7% |
| Other | 18.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Sonnier
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Sonnier have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 68.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 68.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 68.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 68.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 67.80% |
What Sonnier haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Sonnier is R-Z92, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z92 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-M417 and R-P312, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Cornett, Pavlov, Malinowski, Wroblewski, Rutkowski, Sokol, Wojciechowski, Piotrowski, Grabowski, Chmielewski.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Sonnier surname are: H1, W, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Sonnier have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Sonnier" Surname 39.6%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Sonnier" Surname 39.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Sonnier" Surname 24.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Sonnier" Surname 20.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Sonnier?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Sonnier are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition