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

Kwack, 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 Kwack surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kwack in America

Kwack is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kwack surname appeared 115 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 Kwack.

The history of the last name Kwack

The surname Kwack has its origins tracing back to the Netherlands in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "kwakkel," which referred to a type of quail or small bird. The name was likely initially given to someone who lived near an area inhabited by these birds or perhaps had a distinctive gait or mannerism resembling a quail's movement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kwack surname can be found in the Dutch city of Leiden's municipal archives from the year 1572. This document mentions a certain Pieter Kwack, a merchant involved in the city's thriving textile trade during that time period.

In the 17th century, the Kwack name appeared in several historical records related to the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC). One notable individual was Jan Kwack, born in 1621 in Amsterdam, who served as a navigator and captain for the VOC, undertaking multiple voyages to the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia).

The name Kwack can also be traced back to the German region of Westphalia, where it was likely derived from a similar-sounding word or place name. In the 18th century, a prominent figure named Johann Kwack (1732-1808) was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

As the Dutch and German communities expanded and migrated to other parts of the world, the Kwack surname spread as well. In the 19th century, a notable individual bearing this name was William Kwack (1821-1895), an American banker and philanthropist of Dutch descent who founded the Kwack Charitable Foundation in New York City.

Another notable figure was the British author and journalist, Emily Kwack (1876-1942), who gained recognition for her literary works exploring themes of social inequality and women's rights during the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the Kwack surname has been associated with various professions, ranging from merchants and navigators to academics and authors, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kwack

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

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

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

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