Explore the Family Name Tunney
The meaning of Tunney
1. Irish (Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal): shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Tonnaigh ‘descendant of Tonnach’, a personal name meaning either ‘billowy’ (from tonn ‘wave’) or ‘shining’. 2. English (Lancashire and Northumberland): from the Middle English personal name Tunne (Old Norse Tunni, Tunne, a nickname from tunna ‘barrel’).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tunney in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Tunney has seen a modest increase in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, Tunney was ranked as the 18,364th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had moved up to 17,789th place – a 3.13% increase. The count of individuals carrying this name also rose from 1,391 in 2000 to 1,574 in 2010, marking a 13.16% jump. Even when adjusted for population growth, the proportion of people named Tunney per 100,000 residents showed a slight uptick, increasing by 1.92%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,364 | #17,789 | 3.13% |
| Count | 1,391 | 1,574 | 13.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.52 | 0.53 | 1.92% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tunney
When it comes to ethnic identity associated with the surname Tunney, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that it's predominantly carried by those who identify as White, at 88.82% in 2010, a minor decrease from 89.07% in 2000. The percentage of Tunneys identifying as Hispanic saw an increase, going from 1.22% to 1.52%. The percentages of those identifying as Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native decreased slightly. There were no Tunneys who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in 2000, but by 2010 there was a small representation at 0.44%. Similarly, the category of two or more races went from having no representation in 2000 to 1.21% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.07% | 88.82% | -0.28% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 5.82% | 5.65% | -2.92% |
| Black | 2.44% | 2.35% | -3.69% |
| Hispanic | 1.22% | 1.52% | 24.59% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.21% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.44% | 0% |