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

Kowalski, 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 Kowalski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kowalski in America

Kowalski is the 1999th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kowalski surname appeared 18,077 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Kowalski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kowalski 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 Kowalski

The surname Kowalski originates from Poland and is a Polish occupational name derived from the word "kowal", meaning "blacksmith". It first emerged in the Middle Ages when surnames began to be adopted from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kowalski date back to the 15th century in various Polish historical records and documents. These include references in church registers, tax rolls, and land ownership records. The name was initially spelled in various ways, such as Kowalski, Kowalsky, or Kowalczyk, reflecting regional dialect variations.

Kowalski is a common surname in Poland and has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Jan Kowalski, a renowned blacksmith who lived in the city of Krakow during the late 15th century. His craftsmanship was highly regarded, and he was commissioned to create intricate metalwork for churches and noble households.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Kowalski appeared in various historical records related to the Polish nobility and gentry. For instance, Stanisław Kowalski (1550-1622) was a prominent landowner and military commander who fought in several battles against the Swedish forces during the Polish-Swedish wars of the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, Franciszek Kowalski (1720-1785) was a respected scholar and philosopher who taught at the renowned Jagiellonian University in Krakow. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely studied and influenced generations of Polish intellectuals.

Another notable figure was Józef Kowalski (1801-1878), a prominent Polish painter and artist during the Romantic period. His works, depicting landscapes and historical scenes, are now housed in various museums and galleries across Poland.

In the 20th century, Tadeusz Kowalski (1919-2009) was a celebrated Polish writer and journalist who documented the experiences of Poles during World War II and the communist era. His memoirs and novels shed light on the struggles and resilience of the Polish people during those turbulent times.

While the surname Kowalski originated from the blacksmith trade, it has since transcended its occupational roots and become a widespread Polish surname carried by individuals from various walks of life, contributing to the rich cultural and historical fabric of Poland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kowalski

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

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

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

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