NameCensus.

UK surname

Nunez

A patronymic surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Nuño," derived from the Latin name "Nonius."

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Nunez surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 331, ranked #13,735, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Northumberland and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nunez is 331 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10933.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

331

2016, ranked #13,735

Peak year

2016

331 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nunez had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016, ranked #13,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Nunez surname distribution map

The map shows where the Nunez surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Nunez surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nunez over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 7 #32,070
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 166 #20,129
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 182 #19,306
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 205 #18,005
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 267 #16,029
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 331 #13,735

Geography

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Where Nunez' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Northumberland, Newham and Westminster. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 020 Camden
2 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
4 Newham 022 Newham
5 Westminster 023 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nunez

These lists show first names that appear often with the Nunez surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nunez

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nunez, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Nunez surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nunez household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nunez is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nunez is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nunez falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nunez is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nunez, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nunez

The surname Nunez has its origins in Spain and Portugal, derived from the Spanish word "nuño" which means "nun's son." It is believed to have first emerged in the 12th century as a patronymic name, indicating the child of a nun.

During the Middle Ages, it was not uncommon for children born out of wedlock to be given surnames reflecting their parentage or circumstances of birth. The name Nunez likely arose from such situations, where a child was born to a nun and given the surname indicating their maternal connection.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Nunez can be found in the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a record of land distribution in Seville, Spain, following the city's reconquest from the Moors in 1248. This document mentions several individuals bearing the name Nunez, suggesting the surname's widespread use by that time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Pedro Nunez de Villavicencio (1320-1380) was a Spanish explorer and cartographer who contributed significantly to the development of navigation techniques. His work on celestial navigation and the use of astronomical instruments greatly influenced future maritime exploration.

Another prominent individual with the surname Nunez was Pedro Nunez de Avendano (1555-1615), a Spanish jurist and writer. He served as a judge in the Royal Chancery of Granada and authored several legal treatises that were influential in their time.

In the realm of literature, Alonso Nunez de Reinoso (1555-1610) was a Spanish poet and dramatist who gained recognition for his works during the Golden Age of Spanish literature. His plays and poems were widely acclaimed and contributed to the cultural renaissance of the era.

Moving to the New World, Vasco Nunez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who is renowned for being the first European to cross the Isthmus of Panama and catch sight of the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. His expedition led to the exploration and eventual colonization of the region by the Spanish.

One cannot discuss the surname Nunez without mentioning the Portuguese navigator and explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467-1520). Although his surname was Cabral, his mother's surname was Nunez. He is best known for commanding the Portuguese expedition that discovered Brazil in 1500, a pivotal event in the colonization of the Americas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nunez families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nunez surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 3 Nunez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 10.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Katherine in Middlesex leads with 2 Nunez' recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
St Katherine 2 0.00x
Tottenham 1 212.77x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nunez surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Hannah 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nunez surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Edward 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nunez households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Nunez surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nunez surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Nunez surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nunez surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016. That gives Nunez a modern rank of #13,735.

What does the Nunez surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Nuño," derived from the Latin name "Nonius."

What does the Nunez map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nunez bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.