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

Knežević, 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 Knežević surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Knežević in America

Knežević is the 39212th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Knežević surname appeared 561 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 Knežević.

We can also compare 2010 data for Knežević 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 Knežević

The surname Knezevic is of Slavic origin, with its roots traced back to medieval Serbia and Montenegro. The name is derived from the Slavic word "knez," which translates to "prince" or "nobleman." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the Knezevic name held positions of authority and prestige within their communities.

During the Middle Ages, the Knezevic surname was particularly prevalent in the regions of present-day Serbia and Montenegro, which were then part of the medieval Serbian Kingdom. The name can be found in various historical records and chronicles from that period, reflecting the prominence of families bearing this surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Knezevic name dates back to the 14th century, when a nobleman named Vukašin Knezević was mentioned in the chronicles of the Serbian Despotate. Vukašin was a powerful Serbian noble who played a significant role in the events leading up to the Battle of Maritsa in 1363.

In the 15th century, another notable figure bearing the Knezevic surname was Đurađ Knezević, a Serbian diplomat and nobleman who served as an ambassador to the Republic of Venice. His diplomatic efforts helped strengthen the ties between Serbia and the Venetian Republic during a turbulent period in the region's history.

The Knezevic name can also be traced back to various place names in Serbia and Montenegro, such as the town of Knezevic near Užice, which likely derived its name from the prominent Knezevic families that resided in the area.

Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the Knezevic surname. For example, Jovan Knezevic (1766-1833) was a Serbian writer and educator who played a significant role in the development of Serbian literature and education during the Serbian National Revival period.

Another prominent figure was Miloš Knezevic (1856-1932), a Serbian military officer who served as a general in the Balkan Wars and played a crucial role in the liberation of Serbia from Ottoman rule.

Petar Knezevic (1904-1964) was a famous Serbian painter and sculptor who gained recognition for his avant-garde works and contributions to the development of modern art in Yugoslavia.

It is important to note that while the Knezevic surname has its origins in Serbia and Montenegro, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical roots and significance of this name remain deeply tied to the region's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Knežević

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

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

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

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