NameCensus.

UK surname

Sunn

A surname derived from the Old Norse word "sunnu," meaning "the sun."

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Sunn surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Risborough, Princes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sunn is 155 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.1%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

13

2016, ranked #37,278

Peak year

1861

155 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 1891

Key insights

  • Sunn had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016, ranked #37,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 155 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Sunn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sunn surname density by area, 1891 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sunn 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 155 #14,881
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 99 #22,850
1997 modern 14 #36,528
1998 modern 18 #36,135
1999 modern 16 #36,371
2000 modern 17 #36,207
2001 modern 16 #36,160
2002 modern 16 #36,267
2003 modern 17 #36,198
2004 modern 18 #36,245
2005 modern 17 #36,407
2006 modern 15 #36,707
2007 modern 17 #36,628
2008 modern 17 #36,699
2009 modern 18 #36,682
2010 modern 19 #36,687
2011 modern 18 #36,739
2012 modern 13 #37,169
2013 modern 11 #37,435
2014 modern 10 #37,567
2015 modern 10 #37,563
2016 modern 13 #37,278

Geography

Back to top

Where Sunns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, Risborough, Princes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
3 Risborough, Princes Buckinghamshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sunn

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sunn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sunn, 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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Sunn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sunn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Sunn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sunn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sunn

The surname SUNN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the old English word "sunne," which means "sun." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a sunny area or who had a particularly sunny disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SUNN surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and estates in England. This suggests that the name was already established by the 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the SUNN surname began appearing more frequently in various parish records and other historical documents across England. Some notable examples include John Sunn, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, and William Sunn, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379.

The SUNN surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Sunningwell in Berkshire and Sunninghill in Berkshire, which may have influenced the development and spread of the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the SUNN surname was Sir Thomas Sunn, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire during the late 14th century. Another notable individual was Robert Sunn, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from 1510 to 1578.

In the 17th century, the SUNN surname gained further recognition with the birth of Jeremiah Sunn (1628-1689), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several members of the SUNN family achieved distinction in various fields. For instance, Thomas Sunn (1785-1862) was a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in London, while William Sunn (1819-1892) was a respected author and poet whose works explored themes of nature and the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sunn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sunn 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. Lancashire leads with 6 Sunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6 1.73x
Staffordshire 5 5.07x
Sussex 5 10.14x
Essex 4 6.93x
Middlesex 3 1.03x
Northamptonshire 2 7.27x
Denbighshire 1 9.05x
Durham 1 1.15x
Hampshire 1 1.67x
Hertfordshire 1 4.96x
Warwickshire 1 1.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirdford in Sussex leads with 5 Sunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2941.18x.

Place Total Index
Kirdford 5 2941.18x
Liverpool 5 23.73x
Forest Gate 4 5000.00x
Walsall Foreign 3 58.82x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 142.86x
Ardwick 1 31.95x
Atherstone 1 263.16x
Darlington 1 29.76x
Ealing 1 38.31x
Handsworth 1 41.15x
Llandrillo Yn Rhos 1 625.00x
Portsea 1 8.51x
St George Bloomsbury 1 59.52x
Watford 1 64.10x
West Bromwich 1 17.70x
Westminster St John 1 28.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maria 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellin 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
George 3
William 3
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Henry 1
James 1
Mathiew 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Sunn households.

FAQ

Sunn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sunn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Sunn surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sunn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Sunn a modern rank of #37,278.

What does the Sunn surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old Norse word "sunnu," meaning "the sun."

What does the Sunn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sunn 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.