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

Patak, 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 Patak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Patak in America

Patak is the 52619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Patak surname appeared 394 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 Patak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Patak 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 Patak

The surname PATAK is believed to have originated in Hungary, with roots dating back to the 10th century. It is derived from the Hungarian word "patak," which means "stream" or "brook." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small watercourse or who worked with streams in some capacity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PATAK can be found in the Váradi Regestrum, a 13th-century document that recorded legal proceedings in the Várad diocese of Hungary. The name is mentioned in connection with a land dispute, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname were landowners or residents in the region.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named János PATAK (born around 1420) was a scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Vienna. He is credited with writing several theological works and contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the 16th century, the name PATAK appeared in various records in Hungary, including tax rolls and property deeds. One notable individual was Mihály PATAK (1570-1635), a Protestant minister and educator who played a role in the spread of Reformation ideas in Hungary.

The PATAK surname can also be found in historical documents from other parts of Europe, suggesting that individuals bearing this name may have migrated or settled in different regions over time. For example, in the 17th century, a man named Piotr PATAK was recorded as a resident of the Polish city of Krakow.

In the 19th century, a Hungarian artist named Árpád PATAK (1826-1890) gained recognition for his landscape paintings, which often depicted scenes from the Hungarian countryside, including streams and brooks.

Another notable figure was Zoltán PATAK (1900-1978), a Hungarian-born American engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of television technology. He held several patents and worked for companies like RCA and Philco.

The PATAK surname continues to be present in various parts of the world, particularly in Hungary and among individuals of Hungarian descent. While its origins can be traced back to ancient times, the name has endured and carried forward the legacy of those who bore it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Patak

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

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

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

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