Gronkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Gronkowski

Of Polish origin, likely derived from the word "gron" meaning "cluster of grapes" or "vineyard worker".

Gronkowski, 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 Gronkowski surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Gronkowski in America

Gronkowski is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gronkowski surname appeared 107 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 Gronkowski.

The history of the last name Gronkowski

The surname Gronkowski originates from Poland, and its history can be traced back to the late medieval period. The name is derived from the Polish word "gronko," which means a small cluster or bunch, often referring to grapes or berries. This suggests that the name could have originally referred to someone who lived near or worked with grapevines or berry bushes.

In its earliest recorded forms, the name appears in various regional spellings, reflecting the phonetic diversity of the Polish language and dialects. One of the earliest mentions of a similar name is found in the late 14th century in historical documents from the Masovian Voivodeship, where the name was spelled as Gronkow. This form often indicated a connection to a village or town, suggesting that the Gronkowski family may have originated from one such place.

Among the earliest documented individuals with the name Gronkowski was Piotr Gronkowski, noted in a 1526 registry of nobility in the region of Greater Poland. The registry indicates that the Gronkowski family held minor noble status, which allowed them to own land and participate in local governance. Another early reference is to Jan Gronkowski, a member of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's lower nobility, who served as a regional official in the Kraków Voivodeship around 1650.

An important historical figure bearing the name was Stanisław Gronkowski, born in 1783. He was known for his involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, fighting for the Duchy of Warsaw. His military service and subsequent contributions to Polish independence movements cemented his legacy in Polish history. Stanisław's commitment to his country can also be seen in his participation in the November Uprising of 1830.

In the 19th century, the Gronkowski name appeared in various immigration records as many Poles moved to North America and other parts of Europe seeking better opportunities. One notable emigrant was Józef Gronkowski, born in 1845, who settled in Chicago in the 1870s. Józef became a prominent figure in the Polish-American community, contributing to the establishment of Polish cultural and social organizations.

Another significant individual was Wojciech Gronkowski, born in 1891, who gained recognition as a scholar and author specializing in Slavic languages and literature. His works contributed to the understanding and preservation of Polish literary heritage during the interwar period. Wojciech's influential writings and academic career were cut short by World War II, during which he was active in the Polish resistance.

The Gronkowski surname continues to be associated with a sense of cultural heritage and history, connecting descendants to their Polish roots and the traditional landscapes of grapevines and berry bushes. The legacy of this name is enriched by the contributions of its bearers to Polish society and their ongoing impact in various fields across the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gronkowski

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

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 Gronkowski was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.20% 104
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Gronkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 19, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gronkowski-surname-popularity/.

"Gronkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gronkowski-surname-popularity/. Accessed 19 April, 2025

Gronkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/gronkowski-surname-popularity/.

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