Bartkowiak
A Polish surname indicating one's ancestor was a beekeeper.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,063 Americans carry the last name Bartkowiak. That puts it at #26,391 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.31 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 322,441 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bartkowiak surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.1K
1 in 322,441
Census rank
#26,391
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
925
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 925 bearers of the surname Bartkowiak in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 26391st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartkowiak, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bartkowiak
The surname BARTKOWIAK originates from Poland, where it first emerged in the 14th century. The name likely derives from the Polish word "bartnik," which refers to a beekeeper or someone who maintained beehives in the forests. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been involved in beekeeping or lived near areas where this activity took place.
The BARTKOWIAK name is believed to have originated in the region of Greater Poland, specifically in the areas around the cities of Poznan and Gniezno. These areas were known for their dense forests, which provided an ideal environment for beekeeping during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BARTKOWIAK name can be found in a document from the town of Kalisz, dating back to 1389. This document mentions a landowner named Bartosz Bartkowiak, who was granted a parcel of land in recognition of his service to the local nobility.
In the 15th century, the BARTKOWIAK name appeared in several historical records from the Poznan region. One notable example is a reference to a merchant named Jan Bartkowiak, who was involved in the trade of honey and beeswax between Poland and the Hanseatic League cities in the late 1400s.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BARTKOWIAK name spread to other parts of Poland, particularly in the regions of Silesia and Pomerania. In 1562, a record from the town of Bytom mentions a blacksmith named Maciej Bartkowiak, while in 1637, a document from Gdansk refers to a shipwright named Tomasz Bartkowiak.
One of the most famous individuals with the BARTKOWIAK surname was Kazimierz Bartkowiak (1809-1887), a Polish writer and journalist who played a significant role in the development of Polish literature and journalism in the 19th century. Another notable figure was Stanislaw Bartkowiak (1876-1952), a Polish engineer and inventor who made important contributions to the field of aviation and aeronautics.
Other notable individuals with the BARTKOWIAK surname include:
1. Józef Bartkowiak (1834-1910), a Polish politician and member of the Prussian Parliament.
2. Franciszek Bartkowiak (1892-1964), a Polish painter known for his landscape and genre paintings.
3. Henryk Bartkowiak (1926-2009), a Polish film director and screenwriter who worked in both Poland and the United States.
4. Miroslaw Bartkowiak (born 1958), a Polish-American film director and cinematographer, best known for his work on action and science fiction films.
5. Jakub Bartkowiak (born 1987), a Polish professional basketball player who has played in several European leagues.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bartkowiak
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartkowiak, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Bartkowiak bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bartkowiak surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.6%
- Hispanic or Latino0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bartkowiak surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #26,391 | #26,391 | 0.0% |
| Count | 925 | 925 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bartkowiak bearers went from 925 to 925 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #26,391 to #26,391.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bartkowiak
FAQ
Bartkowiak surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bartkowiak?
The surname Bartkowiak holds position #26,391 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,063 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bartkowiak surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartkowiak, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.