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

Dakis, 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 Dakis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dakis in America

Dakis is the 81772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dakis surname appeared 231 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 Dakis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dakis 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 Dakis

The surname "DAKIS" is believed to have originated in Greece, with its earliest known roots dating back to the Byzantine Empire. It is thought to be derived from the Greek word "dakos," which referred to a traditional Cretan dish made of dried bread, tomatoes, and cheese.

During the Byzantine period, surnames often reflected occupations, nicknames, or places of origin. The name "DAKIS" may have initially been a nickname or descriptor for someone who specialized in making or selling the "dakos" dish, or perhaps a person who particularly enjoyed or was known for eating it.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "DAKIS" can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from the island of Crete, where it appears as "Dakis Kalogeros," referring to a local baker or chef. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname by that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Georgios Dakis was a prominent merchant and ship owner based in the port city of Chania, Crete. He played a significant role in the trade between the Venetian-controlled island and the Ottoman Empire.

During the Greek War of Independence in the early 19th century, a rebel leader named Ioannis Dakis from the village of Alikianos, Crete, fought against the Ottoman forces. His exploits were chronicled in local folklore and helped establish the name's association with bravery and patriotism.

Another notable figure was Alexandros Dakis, a Greek linguist and scholar who lived from 1872 to 1945. He made significant contributions to the study of the Cretan dialect and published several books on the subject.

In the 20th century, Georgios Dakis (1905-1985) was a prominent Greek artist and painter, known for his vibrant depictions of rural life and landscapes in Crete.

While the name "DAKIS" is relatively uncommon outside of Greece, it has maintained a strong presence on the island of Crete, where many families continue to carry this surname as a testament to their cultural heritage and connection to the region's culinary traditions and historical events.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dakis

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

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

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

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