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

Olejnik, 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 Olejnik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olejnik in America

Olejnik is the 36246th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olejnik surname appeared 618 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 Olejnik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olejnik 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 Olejnik

The surname OLEJNIK originated in Poland and is a derivative of the Polish word "olejnik," which means "oil miller" or someone who operated an oil mill. This occupation-based surname dates back to the medieval period when surnames were often derived from one's trade or profession.

The earliest recorded instances of the OLEJNIK surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various historical documents and records from various regions of Poland. The name was particularly prevalent in the areas around Krakow, Lublin, and Poznan, where oil mills were common.

One of the earliest known bearers of the OLEJNIK surname was Jan Olejnik, a prominent oil miller from the town of Bochnia, near Krakow, who lived in the late 15th century. His name appears in several municipal records and documents from that time.

In the 16th century, the OLEJNIK surname was also found in the records of the town of Kazimierz Dolny, a historic town located along the Vistula River. A notable individual from this period was Maciej Olejnik, a wealthy landowner and oil mill operator who played a significant role in the local community.

As the centuries passed, the OLEJNIK surname spread across various regions of Poland, and its spelling variations emerged, such as Oleinik, Olejnyk, and Oleinyk. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences.

One of the most famous individuals bearing the OLEJNIK surname was Tadeusz Olejnik (1892-1965), a Polish general who served in both World Wars and was awarded numerous military honors for his bravery and leadership.

Another notable figure was Wiesław Olejnik (1924-2001), a Polish actor and film director who appeared in over 100 movies and television shows during his illustrious career.

In the field of literature, Józef Olejnik (1926-2013) was a prominent Polish writer and poet, known for his works that explored themes of war, resistance, and human resilience.

The OLEJNIK surname can also be found in the historical records of other Slavic countries, such as Ukraine and Belarus, where it was likely introduced through migration and cultural exchange.

While the OLEJNIK surname may have evolved and spread geographically over time, its roots remain firmly grounded in the occupation of oil milling, a vital industry in medieval and early modern Poland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olejnik

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

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

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

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