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

Kolbas, 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 Kolbas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kolbas in America

Kolbas is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kolbas surname appeared 110 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 Kolbas.

The history of the last name Kolbas

The surname Kolbas has its origins in Poland, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Polish word "kolba," which means "a butt or stock of a firearm." The name likely referred to an occupation or trade related to the manufacturing or handling of firearms or weapons.

In the early days, Kolbas was primarily found in the regions of Lesser Poland and Silesia, where early records of the name can be traced. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Jan Kolbas, a gunsmith from Krakow, mentioned in a guild register from 1587, and Michał Kolbas, a blacksmith from Wrocław, recorded in a tax roll from 1612.

The name Kolbas appeared in various historical documents throughout the centuries, including church records, land deeds, and court proceedings. One notable example is the mention of a Jakub Kolbas in the "Metryka Koronna," a collection of royal decrees and documents from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, dating back to the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, the Kolbas surname began to spread beyond its original regions, as individuals with this name migrated to other parts of Poland and neighboring countries. One prominent figure from this era was Franciszek Kolbas (1737-1810), a Polish military officer who fought in the Kościuszko Uprising against the Russian Empire.

As the name Kolbas evolved over time, different spellings and variations emerged, such as Kolbaś, Kolbasinski, and Kolbasek. These variants often reflected regional dialects or the influence of other languages in areas where Kolbas families settled.

Among the notable individuals with the Kolbas surname in more recent history are:

1. Józef Kolbas (1880-1942), a Polish physician and professor at the University of Warsaw.
2. Stanisław Kolbas (1901-1988), a Polish artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
3. Wincenty Kolbas (1923-2001), a Polish writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories.
4. Andrzej Kolbas (born 1951), a Polish politician and former member of the Sejm (lower house of the Polish parliament).
5. Joanna Kolbas (born 1975), a Polish actress and television personality.

While the surname Kolbas has its roots in Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical origins and significance of this name remain closely tied to its Polish heritage and the occupation or trade it once represented.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kolbas

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

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 Kolbas 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!