NUNN
Nunn is an English surname that originates from the British Isles, specifically England. The name is associated with the English language and Christian religious traditions.
The surname derives from the Old English word nunne, meaning “nun”. It was originally a nickname or occupational label for a person connected with a convent or monastery, either by work, by kinship, or by virtue of a pious or religious character.
Historical records demonstrate that the name may have functioned as an occupational surname for a male who worked at a nunnery, or as a stage name for an actor who played the role of a nun in travelling theatres. It could also have been a nickname for a virtuous individual, or, in a tongue‑in‑cheek fashion, for someone who behaved in the opposite manner.
The earliest known spelling is Eluiua Nonna, recorded in 1154 in the register of St. Benet of Holme Abbey, Norfolk, during the reign of King Henry I. The name is listed in several form fields of the International Genealogical Index, which records variants such as Nun, Nunne, Naan, Nann, Neane, Noon, Noone, Noun, Noune, and the patronymic forms Nouns, Nowns, Nunns.
Mid‑eleventh‑century evidence is supported by entries such as Alice Nunne, a witness at the Assize Court of County Durham in 1243, and Robert le Nunne, appearing in the register of Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdonshire, in 1272. Later medieval references include Robert del Nunnes and Roger o' the Nonnes in 1297 and 1309 respectively.
In the early seventeenth century, Richard Nunn, aged nineteen, departed London on the ship Increase bound for New England on 15 April 1635. He is one of the earliest recorded namebearers to settle in America, illustrating the migration of the surname beyond England.
Throughout the centuries, the surname has undergone spelling variations due to evolving orthographic practices, yet its core meaning of “the nun” has remained intact.
Today, Nunn is a fairly common surname in English‑speaking countries, a testament to its enduring historical presence and widespread adoption over the centuries.
Typical given names associated with the Nunn surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Carol
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Nunn in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 11,142 people named Nunn in the UK. That makes it the 822nd most common surname in Britain. Around 171 in a million people in Britain are named Nunn.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Nunn
- Trevor Nunn - Theatre, film and television director
- John Nunn - Chess player
- Aubrey Nunn - Musician
- Mo Nunn - Motor racing team owner and engineer (1938 to 2018)
- Ben Nunn - Football player
- William Nunn - Politician (1879 to 1971)
- Wally Nunn - Football player (1920 to 1)
- Andrew Nunn - Dean of Southwark
- Jean Nunn - (1916 to 1982)
- Percy Nunn - Eductationalist (1870 to 1944)
- John Nunn - Royal Air Force officer, mathematician, and politician (1919 to 2013)
- Marianne Nunn - Hymn writer (1778 to 1847)
- Thomas Nunn - Cricketer (1846 to 1889)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.