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

Jez, 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 Jez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jez in America

Jez is the 53316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jez surname appeared 388 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 Jez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jez 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 Jez

The surname Jez has its origins in medieval Poland, first appearing in written records from the 13th century. It is derived from the Polish word "jez," meaning "hedgehog," and was likely originally a nickname for a prickly or defensive person. The earliest known bearer of the name was Jan Jez, a landowner in the village of Krasne, near Krakow, who was mentioned in a charter from 1265.

In the following centuries, the Jez surname spread across various regions of Poland, with branches of the family establishing themselves in cities like Warsaw, Poznan, and Gdansk. During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the name was Jakub Jez (1550-1605), a poet and playwright who was part of the literary circle surrounding King Sigismund III Vasa.

As Poland's borders shifted and its population migrated, the Jez name also found its way into neighboring countries. In the late 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Prussian city of Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland), where they were documented in municipal records. One prominent individual from this line was Johann Jez (1788-1863), a merchant and philanthropist who donated generously to local charities.

Moving into the 19th century, a member of the Jez family, Franciszek Jez (1820-1892), was a Polish soldier who fought in the November Uprising against Russian rule. He later emigrated to France, where he settled in Paris and worked as a bookseller.

Another notable figure was Karol Jez (1875-1945), a Polish engineer and inventor who specialized in hydraulic machinery. He held several patents for his innovative designs and was recognized for his contributions to the field of hydraulics.

While the Jez surname is relatively uncommon outside of Poland and its neighboring regions, it has been carried by individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of their respective communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jez

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

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

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

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