Kwapis
A surname with possible Polish or Slavic origins, potentially derived from a word meaning "sour."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Kwapis. That puts it at #99,378 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kwapis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#99,378
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
182
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 182 bearers of the surname Kwapis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 99378th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwapis, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kwapis
The surname KWAPIS has its origins in Poland, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Polish word "kwap," which means "sour" or "acidic." This could suggest that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with or produced sour foods or beverages, such as a brewer or a pickler.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name KWAPIS appeared in various historical records and documents from the regions of Greater Poland and Pomerania, which were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of the towns of Poznan and Gdansk.
One of the earliest known bearers of the KWAPIS surname was Jan KWAPIS, a merchant and landowner from the town of Torun, who lived in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Marcin KWAPIS, a renowned clockmaker from Gdansk, who crafted intricate timepieces for the wealthy and nobility in the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, the KWAPIS name gained prominence when Katarzyna KWAPIS, a Polish noblewoman and philanthropist, established a charitable foundation in the city of Krakow to support orphans and the underprivileged. Her legacy lived on through the KWAPIS Foundation, which continued to operate for several decades after her death in 1782.
During the 19th century, the KWAPIS surname spread beyond Poland as some members of the family emigrated to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas. One such individual was Tomasz KWAPIS, a Polish-American artist and painter who settled in Chicago in the late 1800s and gained recognition for his vivid landscapes and portraits.
Another notable bearer of the KWAPIS surname was Wladyslaw KWAPIS, a Polish military officer and strategist who played a significant role in the Polish resistance movement during World War II. He was captured and imprisoned by the Nazis but managed to escape and continue his efforts to undermine the German occupation until the end of the war.
Throughout its history, the KWAPIS surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, artisans, noblemen, artists, and military personnel. While the name may have originated from a humble occupation related to food production, it has since transcended its origins and become a proud part of Polish heritage and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kwapis
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwapis, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Kwapis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Kwapis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kwapis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #98,770 | #99,378 | -0.6% |
| Count | 170 | 182 | 7.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Kwapis bearers went from 170 to 182 (+7.1% change). The surname moved down 608 positions in the national ranking, going from #98,770 to #99,378.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kwapis
FAQ
Kwapis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kwapis?
The surname Kwapis holds position #99,378 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kwapis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kwapis, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.