Meaning and origin
The last name Gunter has its origins in the Old High German personal name "Gundahar," composed of the elements "gund" meaning battle or war, and "hari" meaning army. Introduced to the British Isles by the Normans, it evolved into various forms such as Gunter, Gounter, and Guntur. A popular surname among medieval knights and warriors, Gunter signifies a distinguished lineage connected to military prowess and strength.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,457
Gunter was the 1,457th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 24,513 people, about 7.9 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Gunter
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Gunter is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.