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

Nowak, 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 Nowak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nowak in America

Nowak is the 1902nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nowak surname appeared 18,891 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 Nowak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nowak 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 Nowak

The surname NOWAK is of Polish origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Polish word "nowy," meaning "new," and likely referred to someone who was a newcomer to a particular area or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NOWAK can be found in the Liber Beneficiorum, a 15th-century document detailing the distribution of church benefices in the Archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland. The name appears in various spellings, such as Nowak, Novak, and Novacky, reflecting regional variations.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the NOWAK surname gained prominence in various parts of Poland, particularly in the regions of Wielkopolska, Małopolska, and Silesia. Several notable individuals bearing this name emerged during this period, including Jan NOWAK (1546-1612), a Polish jurist and diplomat who served as a royal secretary to King Sigismund III Vasa.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent figure with the NOWAK surname, Tadeusz NOWAK (1738-1805), a Polish poet and playwright who is considered one of the pioneers of the Polish Enlightenment literature. His works, such as "The Peasant's Revenge" and "The Aristocrat's Shame," addressed social issues and advocated for reforms.

In the 19th century, the NOWAK surname gained international recognition through the work of Wacław NOWAK (1828-1893), a Polish writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Polish independence movement. His writings helped shape the national consciousness and inspired generations of Polish patriots.

Another notable individual with the NOWAK surname was Józef NOWAK (1865-1948), a Polish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of aviation. He designed and built several early aircraft prototypes, including the Nowak N-1, one of the first successful biplane designs in Poland.

The 20th century brought forth several more prominent figures bearing the NOWAK surname, such as Kazimierz NOWAK (1897-1937), a Polish military officer and politician who played a crucial role in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921, and Jerzy NOWAK (1923-1971), a renowned Polish actor and theater director.

Throughout its history, the NOWAK surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, politicians, and military leaders. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Poland, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by Polish emigrants and their descendants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nowak

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

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

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

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