Czyz
A Polish surname likely derived from the Polish word "czyz" meaning a finch or small bird.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Czyz. That puts it at #32,079 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Czyz 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
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,079
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
719
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 719 bearers of the surname Czyz in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32079th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Czyz, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Czyz
The surname "CZYZ" has its origins in Poland. It is a Polish occupational surname derived from the Polish word "czyz", which means a finch or a type of small songbird. The name likely originated in the Middle Ages and referred to someone who caught or kept finches, possibly a hunter or a birdcatcher by trade.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname "CZYZ" can be traced back to the 15th century in various regions of Poland. It was commonly found in areas such as Lesser Poland, Masovia, and the Kraków region. The name appears in historical records and documents from that time period, including parish registers and court records.
One notable historical reference to the surname "CZYZ" is found in the "Akta Grodzkie i Ziemskie" (District and Land Records) from the 16th century, which were official documents of legal proceedings in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These records mention individuals with the surname "CZYZ" involved in various legal matters and transactions.
Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "CZYZ" was Jan Czyz, who lived in the town of Przytyk in the Masovian Voivodeship in the late 15th century. Another early bearer of the name was Jakub Czyz, a resident of the village of Wierzawice in the Kraków region, mentioned in parish records from the early 16th century.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname "CZYZ". One such person was Katarzyna Czyz (1626-1688), a Polish noblewoman and landowner from the szlachta (noble) class, who owned estates in the Lublin region. Another was Piotr Czyz (1790-1853), a Polish painter and artist known for his landscapes and religious works.
Other individuals with the surname "CZYZ" include Walenty Czyz (1807-1867), a Polish writer and poet from the Romantic period, and Józef Czyz (1859-1922), a Polish military officer and general who served in the Polish Legions during World War I. In more recent times, Andrzej Czyz (1938-2008) was a prominent Polish actor and director in theater and film.
The surname "CZYZ" has remained relatively common in Poland over the centuries, with various spelling variations such as "Czyż" and "Czysz" also being used. While it has spread to other parts of the world through migration, its roots can be traced back to the Polish lands and the occupational origins related to the finch or small songbird.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Czyz
Among Census respondents with the surname Czyz, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Czyz 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 Czyz surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Czyz 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,038 | #32,079 | 5.8% |
| Count | 631 | 719 | 13.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.23 | 0.24 | 4.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Czyz bearers went from 631 to 719 (+13.9% change). The surname moved up 1,959 positions in the national ranking, going from #34,038 to #32,079.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Czyz
FAQ
Czyz surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Czyz?
The surname Czyz holds position #32,079 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Czyz surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Czyz, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%). 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.