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

Kanik, 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 Kanik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanik in America

Kanik is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanik surname appeared 105 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 Kanik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kanik 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 Kanik

The surname KANIK is believed to have originated in Poland, with roots that can be traced back to the 16th century. It is likely derived from the Polish word "kanik," which translates to "linnet," a type of small songbird. This surname may have been initially given as a nickname or a descriptive name to someone whose behavior or physical characteristics resembled that of a linnet.

In the early days, surnames were often based on occupations, physical traits, or locations, and KANIK could have been a reference to a person who had a particular affinity for these birds or worked with them in some capacity. Alternatively, it might have been associated with a place name related to the presence of these birds in a particular area.

Historical records show that the name KANIK appeared in various documents and manuscripts from the 16th century onwards in Poland. One notable example is Jakub KANIK, a Polish nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 16th century and was mentioned in several legal documents related to property ownership and land disputes.

As the centuries passed, the KANIK surname spread across different regions of Poland and evolved into various spellings, such as Kanick, Kanyk, and Kanike. In the 18th century, Jan KANIK (1720-1789) was a prominent Polish painter and engraver known for his religious works and portraits of the Polish nobility.

Another notable figure with this surname was Stanisław KANIK (1828-1905), a Polish sculptor and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. His works can be found in various churches and public spaces throughout Poland.

In the 19th century, Franciszek KANIK (1835-1912) was a Polish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early automobiles and internal combustion engines.

During the 20th century, the KANIK surname continued to be present in various fields. For instance, Józef KANIK (1902-1978) was a Polish military officer who served in World War II and later became a prominent historian and author, writing extensively on the history of the Polish armed forces.

While the KANIK surname may not be as widespread as some other Polish surnames, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Poland, with various individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across different domains throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanik

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

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

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

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