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

Kowaleski, 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 Kowaleski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kowaleski in America

Kowaleski is the 23634th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kowaleski surname appeared 1,073 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 Kowaleski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kowaleski 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 Kowaleski

The surname Kowaleski is of Polish origin, derived from the occupation of a blacksmith or metalworker. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century, with the earliest recorded instances found in regions that are now part of modern-day Poland.

The name Kowaleski is derived from the Polish word "kowal," which means "blacksmith" or "metalworker." This suggests that the name was originally given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or in other metalworking professions. In medieval times, blacksmiths played a crucial role in producing tools, weapons, and other essential items for daily life.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Kowaleski can be found in the Truputa Codex, a medieval Polish manuscript dating back to the late 14th century. This codex contains various legal documents and records, including mentions of individuals with the surname Kowaleski.

During the 16th century, the name Kowaleski appeared in various Polish town and village records, indicating its widespread use across different regions of the country. Some notable individuals with this surname from that period include Jakub Kowaleski (1540-1612), a renowned Polish blacksmith known for his intricate metalwork designs.

In the 17th century, the name Kowaleski gained further prominence with the rise of Jan Kowaleski (1625-1698), a Polish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Polish-Swedish wars of the mid-17th century.

Another notable figure was Katarzyna Kowaleski (1780-1856), a Polish educator and advocate for women's rights who established one of the first schools for girls in Warsaw.

As the name Kowaleski spread across Poland, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Kowalski, Kowalczyk, and Kowalewski, reflecting regional dialects and preferences.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kowaleski include Marian Kowaleski (1892-1972), a Polish-American economist and author, and Wladyslaw Kowaleski (1910-1990), a renowned Polish sculptor whose works are displayed in museums and public spaces across Europe.

While the name Kowaleski has its roots in the blacksmithing trade, over the centuries, it has become widespread and associated with individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and history of Poland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kowaleski

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

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

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

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