The Dunning surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,784 people carried this name — #3,330 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 27,300 people counted. That is up 2% from 10,583 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Dunning surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Dunning’.

An early record he cites: Hervey Dunning, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Dunning and Downing.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 258 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

20 people named Dunning live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Bern 7
Geneva 7
Vaud 6

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Dunning was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Dorset: 20 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 500. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Dorset 20
Warwickshire 20
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 18
Devon 10

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

95 families named Dunning, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 554 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 24
New York 23
Maine 11
Vermont 11
North Carolina 11
Pennsylvania 6
Maryland 5
Virginia 2
Massachusetts 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 238 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Dunning in American newspapers,
1893–1909.

Newspaper page from Grant County Herald carrying the name Dunning
Grant County Herald 1909-08-18
Newspaper page from Fergus Falls Ugeblad carrying the name Dunning
Fergus Falls Ugeblad 1893-09-27
Newspaper page from The Spanish Fork Press carrying the name Dunning
The Spanish Fork Press 1909-08-26

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Dunning in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

25,486 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dunning. The most, 5,386, date from the 1930s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 2.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 7,155
Queensland 5,281
New South Wales 4,629
Tasmania 3,490
South Australia 3,244
Western Australia 1,516
ACT (Canberra) 138
Northern Territory 8

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Dunning.

Who carried it

People named Dunning,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Goddard Dunning
    Goddard Dunning 1614–1678 · painter
  • John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton
    John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton 1731–1783 · politician
  • Michael Dunning d. 1558
  • John Dunning d. 1780
  • unknown Dunning d. 1783
  • Elizabeth Mary Burder d. 1921

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Dunning,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,223 records

1,223 records of the Dunning name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 353
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 324
  • Other U.S. records 546
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George W. Dunning

    Born 1925 in Ohio. Enlisted 1943 at Columbus; farm hand from Belmont County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Powhatan Cemetery, Powhatan Point, Ohio.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Susan Dunning

    Arrived at New York in 1897 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 23; silk spinner. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Dennis Gyman Dunning

    Born 1953; from Raymond, Mississippi. U.S. Army, infantryman; died in an accident 1972 in Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,223 records for Dunning in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Netherlands730 records

730 records of the Dunning name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 479
  • Dutch population registers 242
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 9
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Berend Dunning

    Married in 1922 in Groningen; concrete worker. Died 1967 in Groningen, aged 69.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Aaltje Dunning

    Married in 1903 in Ruinerwold; domestic servant. Died 1966 in Havelte, aged 91.

    Open Archives, Drents Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maartje Dunning

    Married in 1859 in Nieuwendam; "boerenbedrijf". Died 1863 in Nieuwendam, aged 46.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 730 records for Dunning in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia647 records

647 records of the Dunning name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 371
  • Tasmanian Names Index 96
  • Other Australian records 180
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Dunning

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Canton, sailing from London in 1839. Native of Frome, Somerset. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Dunning

    Arrived in Victoria in 1854 aboard the Graham, aged 45; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frederick W. Dunning

    Gentleman of Glenferrie, Victoria; died 1952.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 647 records for Dunning in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada56 records

56 records of the Dunning name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 18
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 12
  • Other Canadian records 26
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno Dunning

    Came to Ontario in 1872 aboard the Nestorian, landing at Quebec, bound for Woodbridge, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marilyn Winnifred Dunning

    Buried in 1994 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 44.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Mary Jane Dunning

    Died 1905 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 56 records for Dunning in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom23 records

23 records of the Dunning name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 17
  • Stirling Council burial records 3
  • Other British records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Emily Dunning

    Died 1993, aged 73; buried at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Bridget Dunning

    Will proved in 1932; of Rhyl, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. E. Dunning

    Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Dunning in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Germany8 records

8 records of the Dunning name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Adolf Dunning

    From Hassee, Kiel. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 25 September 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 260).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Paul Dünning

    From Bielefeld. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 28 July 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Dunning in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand3 records

3 records of the Dunning name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick C.e Dunning

    Died 1904, aged 62; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Dunning in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland2 records

2 records of the Dunning name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Delia Dunning

    Died 1987; buried at Clonburn, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Dunning

    Died 1959; buried at Clonburn, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Dunning name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Robert Dunning

    Died 1940 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Dunning.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Dunning is.
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