Find out how popular the last name Bekas is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bekas.

Bekas, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bekas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bekas in America

Bekas is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bekas surname appeared 135 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bekas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bekas to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bekas

The surname BEKAS is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, specifically in the regions that are now part of Poland and Ukraine. It is thought to have derived from the Slavic word "byk," which means "bull" or "ox." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to individuals who worked with cattle or bulls, such as oxherds or cattle traders.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BEKAS can be found in the Ksiega Henrykowska, a medieval manuscript from the 13th century that contains records of land ownership and transactions in the region of Silesia, which was then part of Poland. In this document, the name is spelled as "Bekasz," indicating that the spelling has evolved over time.

During the Middle Ages, the BEKAS surname was also documented in various charters and land records in the regions of Galicia and Volhynia, which were then part of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. These records often mention individuals with the BEKAS surname as landowners or peasants.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the BEKAS surname was Jan BEKAS, a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Muscovite War (1605-1618). He was born in 1570 and died in 1630.

Another historical figure was Stanisław BEKAS (1560-1638), a Polish Catholic priest and theologian who served as the rector of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, one of the oldest universities in Europe.

In the 18th century, Andrzej BEKAS (1722-1798) was a Polish painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits. He was a prominent figure in the artistic circles of Warsaw during his time.

Moving into the 19th century, Józef BEKAS (1813-1885) was a Polish writer and journalist who contributed to various literary and political publications. He was actively involved in the Polish independence movement and was imprisoned for his political activities.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Kazimierz BEKAS (1868-1942) was a Polish architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Lviv, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Some of his works include the Polish National House and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

These examples illustrate the historical presence of the BEKAS surname in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and the surrounding regions. While the name's origins can be traced back to occupational roots, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, artists, and intellectuals.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bekas

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bekas.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bekas was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bekas has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bekas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bekas, please contact us.

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