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

Klapak, 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 Klapak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Klapak in America

Klapak is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Klapak surname appeared 115 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 Klapak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Klapak 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 Klapak

The surname KLAPAK has its origins in the Slavic regions of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in modern-day Poland and Ukraine. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century.

One of the earliest theories regarding the etymology of KLAPAK suggests that it may have derived from an old Slavic word 'klapati', which means 'to clap' or 'to beat'. This could indicate that the name was originally associated with a profession or occupation related to rhythmic clapping or beating, such as a drummer or a miller.

Another possibility is that KLAPAK may have originated as a nickname or descriptive surname, referring to someone who was known for their clapping or beating habits or mannerisms. In Slavic cultures, nicknames based on physical characteristics or behaviors were commonly adopted as surnames during the Middle Ages.

Some historical records indicate that variants of the name KLAPAK, such as Klapacz or Klapaczyk, were present in Polish and Ukrainian villages and towns as early as the 16th century. These variants likely emerged due to regional dialects and spelling variations.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname KLAPAK was Jan Klapak, a Polish farmer and landowner who lived in the village of Grodków in the late 16th century. Records from the time mention him as a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 18th century, a Ukrainian musician named Petro Klapak gained recognition for his skill in playing the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument. He is believed to have been born in the village of Zybkiv around 1720 and performed extensively throughout the region.

Another notable figure was Franciszek Klapak, a Polish writer and philosopher who lived in the early 19th century. Born in Kraków in 1785, he authored several works on ethics and moral philosophy, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the late 19th century, a Ukrainian painter named Oleksandr Klapak gained recognition for his landscapes and portraits. He was born in the village of Kholmets in 1857 and studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.

In the 20th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname KLAPAK was Mykola Klapak, a Ukrainian military officer who served in the Soviet Army during World War II. Born in 1908, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his bravery and leadership in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Klapak

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

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

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

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