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

Kostek, 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 Kostek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kostek in America

Kostek is the 57372nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kostek surname appeared 355 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 Kostek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kostek 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 Kostek

The surname Kostek is of Polish origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "kostka," which means "small bone" or "cube." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone with a small stature or a occupation related to bones or dice.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kostek can be traced back to the 15th century in various historical documents from the Polish regions. Notable mentions include Jan Kostek, a prominent merchant who lived in Krakow during the mid-1400s, and Bartosz Kostek, a landowner from the village of Żnin, whose name appears in a land registry from 1489.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kostek surname gained prominence, particularly among the Polish nobility. One notable figure was Stanisław Kostek, a nobleman born in 1550, who served as a military commander under King Sigismund III Vasa. His bravery and leadership during the Polish-Swedish War earned him recognition and the title of "Defender of the Fatherland."

In the 18th century, the name Kostek appeared in several church records and census documents from the regions of Greater Poland and Silesia. One notable individual from this period was Józef Kostek, a renowned priest and scholar who authored several theological works and served as the rector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow from 1782 to 1785.

The 19th century saw the Kostek surname spread beyond Polish borders, with several bearers of the name emigrating to other parts of Europe and North America. One notable figure was Andrzej Kostek, a Polish-American activist and journalist born in 1854, who played a significant role in advocating for Polish independence and promoting Polish culture in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kostek include Kazimierz Kostek (1887-1965), a Polish painter and art professor; Stanisław Kostek (1890-1975), a Polish-American architect known for his work in the Chicago area; and Jadwiga Kostek (1905-1987), a Polish actress and singer who performed in numerous theater productions and films during the interwar period.

While the Kostek surname may have had humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, including merchants, noblemen, clergy, artists, and activists, reflecting the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Poland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kostek

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

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

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

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