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

Kowalsky, 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 Kowalsky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kowalsky in America

Kowalsky is the 18106th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kowalsky surname appeared 1,538 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kowalsky.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kowalsky 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 Kowalsky

The surname Kowalsky originated in Poland, derived from the Polish word "kowal," which means "blacksmith." It first appeared in the 12th century and was used to identify individuals who worked as blacksmiths or had ancestors who practiced this trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kowalsky can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from the town of Krakow, where a blacksmith named Jan Kowalsky was mentioned as a resident. The name was also prevalent in other regions of Poland, particularly in the areas around Poznan and Warsaw.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Kowalsky was often spelled differently, such as Kowalski, Kowalczyk, or Kowalewski, reflecting regional variations and the evolution of the Polish language. These variations were common among surnames derived from occupations or professions.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Marcin Kowalsky lived in the city of Torun. He was a respected blacksmith and metalworker who crafted intricate gates and decorative metalwork for local churches and noble residences. His work can still be seen in some of the historic buildings in Torun.

Another notable individual with the surname Kowalsky was Jadwiga Kowalska, a Polish noblewoman who lived in the 17th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and is remembered for establishing a charitable foundation that provided aid to orphans and widows in her region.

In the 19th century, a Polish-American artist named Kazimierz Kowalsky gained recognition for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from his native Poland. He was born in 1832 in Warsaw and immigrated to the United States in the late 1860s, where he continued to create works that celebrated his homeland's natural beauty.

Another individual worth mentioning is Stanislaw Kowalsky, a Polish military officer who fought in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921. Born in 1890, he served with distinction and was awarded several medals for his bravery and leadership during the conflict.

Throughout history, the surname Kowalsky has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from skilled artisans and tradesmen to noble families and military figures, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this Polish surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kowalsky

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

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

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

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