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

Jakaitis, 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 Jakaitis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jakaitis in America

Jakaitis is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jakaitis surname appeared 179 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 Jakaitis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jakaitis 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 Jakaitis

The surname Jakaitis has its origins in Lithuania, with the earliest records dating back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Lithuanian word "jakas," which means a peasant or a commoner. This suggests that the name was initially adopted by people of humble origins, possibly serfs or farmers.

One of the earliest known references to the name Jakaitis can be found in the chronicles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where it appears in the context of land ownership disputes during the reign of Vytautas the Great (1350-1430). The name is mentioned in connection with a village called Jakaitiskiai, which is believed to be the ancestral homeland of the Jakaitis family.

In the 16th century, the name Jakaitis began to spread across Lithuania as the country experienced a period of relative stability and population growth. It is recorded in various legal documents, such as property deeds and court proceedings, indicating that some members of the family had achieved a certain level of social standing and wealth.

One of the most notable individuals bearing the Jakaitis surname was Jonas Jakaitis (1580-1647), a renowned poet and playwright who is considered one of the pioneers of Lithuanian literature. His works, which were written in both Lithuanian and Latin, reflect the cultural and intellectual developments of his time.

Another prominent figure was Mykolas Jakaitis (1715-1789), a Catholic priest and educator who played a pivotal role in establishing the first Lithuanian-language school in the town of Kražiai. His efforts helped preserve the Lithuanian language and culture during a period of intense Polonization and Russification efforts.

In the 19th century, the Jakaitis surname gained further recognition with the birth of Vincas Jakaitis (1835-1912), a prominent Lithuanian-American philanthropist and community leader. He emigrated to the United States in the late 1800s and became a successful businessman, using his wealth to support various Lithuanian cultural and educational initiatives.

The name Jakaitis also has variations and alternative spellings, such as Jakaitys, Jakajty, and Jakajczyk, which can be found in historical records from different regions of Lithuania and neighboring countries where Lithuanians settled.

Throughout its history, the surname Jakaitis has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to Lithuanian culture, education, and community life. While the name may have humble origins, it has gained a respected status over the centuries, reflecting the resilience and achievements of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jakaitis

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

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

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

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