Biernacki last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Biernacki

A Polish surname derived from the word "biernat", meaning a wealthy landowner or peasant leader.

Biernacki, 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 Biernacki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Biernacki in America

Biernacki is the 24762nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Biernacki surname appeared 1,006 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 Biernacki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Biernacki 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank24762245131.01%
Count1,0069565.10%
Proportion per 100k0.340.35-2.90%

The history of the last name Biernacki

The surname "BIERNACKI" is of Polish origin, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. This name is derived from the Polish word "bierna," which means "passive" or "inactive," and "cki" is a diminutive suffix. The combination of these elements suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was perceived as inactive or passive in their demeanor or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BIERNACKI" can be found in the records of the town of Lublin, located in eastern Poland. In the 14th century, a man named Jan Biernacki was listed as a landowner in the region. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a recognizable surname by that time.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name "BIERNACKI" appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including parish registers and court documents. These records provide valuable insights into the lives and activities of individuals bearing this surname, often revealing their occupations, social status, and familial relationships.

Notable individuals with the surname "BIERNACKI" include Józef Biernacki (1805-1889), a Polish architect and urban planner who designed several prominent buildings in Warsaw, including the Warsaw Philharmonic. Another significant figure was Władysław Biernacki (1870-1918), a Polish military officer and politician who played a crucial role in the Polish struggle for independence during World War I.

In the realm of literature, Mikołaj Biernacki (1812-1892) was a Polish writer and translator known for his contributions to Polish Romanticism. His works explored themes of national identity and cultural heritage.

Moving into the 20th century, Mieczysław Biernacki (1891-1959) was a renowned Polish economist and statistician who made significant contributions to the field of economic theory and statistical analysis.

Finally, Józef Biernacki (1930-2020) was a Polish actor and theater director who had a long and distinguished career spanning over six decades. He received numerous awards and accolades for his performances on stage and in film.

While the name "BIERNACKI" may have originated as a descriptive term, it has since evolved into a proud surname carried by individuals who have made notable contributions across various fields, from architecture and urban planning to literature, economics, and the performing arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Biernacki

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

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 Biernacki was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only93.74%943
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.60%6
Hispanic Origin4.87%49

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 Biernacki has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White93.74%96.65%-3.06%
Black(S)%0.00%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander(S)%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)%(S)%
Two or More Races0.60%0.73%-19.55%
Hispanic4.87%2.30%71.69%

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

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

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