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

Biake, 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 Biake surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Biake in America

Biake is the 81700th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biake surname appeared 215 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Biake.

The history of the last name Biake

The surname Biake has roots in Eastern Europe, with the earliest known instances appearing in the regions that are now modern-day Poland and Ukraine. Historical records suggest that the name Biake emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th to 14th century. The name is derived from the Slavic word "biały," which means "white." The term may have been used in a descriptive sense, possibly referring to someone with light-colored hair or a fair complexion. This is consistent with other Slavic surnames developed from physical characteristics or notable traits.

One of the earliest references to the surname Biake can be traced back to a manuscript dating from the 14th century in what is now southeastern Poland. This manuscript, detailing local land ownership, mentions a landowning family by the name Biake, suggesting that individuals with this surname held some socio-economic status. The spelling of the name varied slightly in historical texts, with alternative forms such as Bialke and Bjak appearing depending on the region and the specific scribe's conventions.

In one notable historical reference, a man named Jan Biake served as a local official in a small Polish village in the early 15th century. Documentation from the period records Jan Biake's involvement in regional governance and land disputes, highlighting his prominence in the local community. The Biake family name also appears in the records of medieval Ukrainian towns, indicating migration or expansion of the family across borders within Eastern Europe.

Another significant figure was Aleksander Biake, born in 1510 and known for his contributions to early scientific endeavors, particularly in the study of astronomy. Records from the mid-16th century document Aleksander's correspondence with contemporaneous scholars and his observations of celestial events, showcasing the intellectual presence associated with the Biake name.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Biake surname continued to be recorded in various archival documents, including tax registers, military enlistments, and ecclesiastical records. In 1624, a military roll lists Katarzyna Biake, a widow who took on her deceased husband's responsibilities, participating in defense efforts during regional conflicts in what is now Western Ukraine.

In the early 18th century, Grzegorz Biake is noted for his work as a master stonemason, having helped construct several significant churches and public buildings in Lviv. The craftsmanship and design attributed to Grzegorz stand as a testament to the skill and renown of the Biake family during this period.

Finally, Józef Biake, born in 1765 and died in 1829, made historical contributions as a political figure and reform advocate during his lifetime. An active participant in the political life of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Józef was involved in efforts to modernize and reform the regional administration, leaving a lasting legacy in the form of enhanced civic policies.

Overall, the surname Biake has a rich history rooted in Eastern Europe, evolving from meaningful physical descriptors and expanding across regions. This surname is associated with influential individuals who have played pivotal roles in their respective societies from the medieval period through the early modern era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biake

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Biake 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.

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 Biake was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!