Contents [hide]

Nunn History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Nunn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Nunn

What does the name Nunn mean?

The Nunn surname derives from the Old English word "nunne," in turn from the Latin "nonna," both of which mean a "Nun." As a name, it was likely originally a nickname for a pious person, or an occupational name for someone who worked at a convent.

Early Origins of the Nunn family

The surname Nunn was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Nunn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nunn research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1514 is included under the topic Early Nunn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nunn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Noon, Noone, Nunn, Nones, None, Nun and others.

Early Notables of the Nunn family

More information is included under the topic Early Nunn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nunn World Ranking

In the United States, the name Nunn is the 2,017^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Nunn is ranked the 874^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,517 people with that name. 2 And in the United Kingdom, the name Nunn is the 846^th popular surname with an estimated 8,009 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Nunn family to Ireland

Some of the Nunn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nunn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nunn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Nunn, aged 19, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Increase" 4
Tho Nunn, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 4
John Nunn, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 4
John Nunn, who settled in Virginia in 1695

Nunn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Nunn, who landed in Mississippi in 1856 4
Mr. George Nunn, aged 16, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Nunn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Nunn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Nunn, English convict from Bedford, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Benjamin Nunn, English convict who was convicted in Ipswich, Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. James Nunn, (b. 1818), aged 15, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1876 7
Thomas Nunn, English convict from Suffolk, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8
George Nunn, English convict from Suffolk, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Nunn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Nunn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ann Nunn, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Mr. H. W. R. Nunn, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Nunn (post 1700) +

William Goldwyn "Bill" Nunn III (1952-2016), American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Robbie Robertson in the Spider-Man film trilogy
Warne Nunn, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oregon, 1972 11
Thomas Jefferson Nunn, American politician, Delegate to Kentucky State Constitutional Convention, 1891; Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals, 1903 11
Sam A. Nunn, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1928; Member of Georgia State Board of Education 3rd District, 1948-49 11
Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr. (b. 1938), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives, 1969-72; U.S. Senator from Georgia, 1972-97; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1996 11
Michalene Nunn, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1980 11
Louis Broady Nunn (1924-2004), American Republican politician, State Court Judge in Kentucky, 1953; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1960 (alternate), 1972; Governor of Kentucky, 1967-71Candidate for U.S. Senator from Kentucky, 1972 11
Joshua Nunn, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in London, 1863-81 11
Joe E. Nunn, American Democratic Party politician, Elected Kentucky State House of Representatives 8th District 1955 11
James Henry Nunn, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Pará, 1918 11
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Nunn family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Hentry Andrews Nunn, British Sergeant Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 12

The Nunn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re
Motto Translation: Gentle in manner, firm in act.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html