2000
#114,166
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 142
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Gadacz
A Polish surname referring to one who speaks frequently or chats a lot.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 169 Americans carry the last name Gadacz. That puts it at #123,144 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,028,132 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gadacz surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
169
1 in 2,028,132
Census rank
#123,144
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
147
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 147 bearers of the surname Gadacz in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 123144th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gadacz, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gadacz
The surname GADACZ is of Polish origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Polish word "gadać," which means "to talk" or "to chat." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to an individual who was known for their talkative or chatty nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the GADACZ surname can be found in the Akta Grodzkie, a collection of historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries documenting legal proceedings and transactions in various regions of Poland. The name appears in these documents, indicating its presence in the Polish lands during that time period.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the GADACZ surname was Jan GADACZ, a prominent merchant and landowner from the town of Bochnia, located in the Lesser Poland region. Records show that he owned several properties and played an influential role in the local community.
During the 17th century, the GADACZ surname gained further prominence with the birth of Marcin GADACZ (1625-1691), a renowned Polish historian and author. His seminal work, "Chronologia Polonorum," chronicled the history of Poland from its earliest beginnings to the late 17th century, providing invaluable insights into the nation's past.
Another notable bearer of the GADACZ surname was Katarzyna GADACZ (1770-1845), a Polish noblewoman and philanthropist. She was known for her charitable endeavors, supporting various causes and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the less fortunate in her community.
In the 19th century, the GADACZ surname continued to appear in historical records, with one notable figure being Tomasz GADACZ (1845-1912), a respected lawyer and legal scholar. He made significant contributions to the development of Polish jurisprudence and played a pivotal role in shaping the country's legal system during that era.
Throughout its history, the GADACZ surname has been associated with various professions, from merchants and landowners to scholars and legal professionals. While its origin stems from a descriptive nickname, the name has evolved to represent a rich tapestry of individuals who have left their mark on Polish history and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gadacz
Among Census respondents with the surname Gadacz, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Gadacz bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Gadacz surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0% · 147
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gadacz
Gadacz appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#117,480
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 148
+6 bearers (+4.2%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 3,314 places
2020
#123,144
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 147
-1 bearers (-0.7%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 5,664 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #114,166 | 142 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #117,480 | 148 | 0.05 | +6 bearers (+4.2%) | Down 3,314 places |
| 2020 | #123,144 | 147 | 0.05 | -1 bearers (-0.7%) | Down 5,664 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Gadacz surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #117,480 | #123,144 | -4.8% |
| Count | 148 | 147 | -0.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | -1.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gadacz bearers went from 148 to 147 (-0.7% change). The surname moved down 5,664 positions in the national ranking, going from #117,480 to #123,144.
FAQ
Gadacz surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gadacz?
Name Census estimates that about 169 living Americans carry the surname Gadacz. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,028,132 residents.
How common is Gadacz?
Gadacz ranks #123,144 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 147 people with the surname Gadacz. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (169), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gadacz.
Has Gadacz become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gadacz went from 148 recorded bearers to 147. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #117,480 to #123,144.
What does the Census say about the background of Gadacz?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gadacz, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Gadacz in the 2020 Census, accounting for 100.0% (147 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gadacz appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (100.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Gadacz (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Gadacz mean?
A Polish surname referring to one who speaks frequently or chats a lot. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Gadacz (0.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Gadacz?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.