Pauk last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Pauk

A surname likely originating from the Slavic word for spider.

Pauk, 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 Pauk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pauk in America

Pauk is the 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pauk surname appeared 236 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 Pauk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pauk 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 80419 80216 0.25%
Count 236 220 7.02%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.08 0.00%

The history of the last name Pauk

The surname PAUK is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, specifically in the region encompassing modern-day Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. Its roots can be traced back to the 14th century, when it first appeared in various local records and manuscripts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PAUK can be found in the Akty Grodzkie (Castle Court Records) of the Brest-Litovsk region, dated around 1390. These records document legal proceedings and transactions within the region, suggesting that individuals bearing the PAUK surname played a role in the local community at that time.

The name PAUK is thought to have derived from the Slavic word "pauk," meaning "spider." This etymology suggests that the surname may have been used to describe someone with spider-like qualities or occupations, such as agility, weaving, or silk production. Alternatively, it could have been a nickname given to someone who resembled or displayed characteristics reminiscent of a spider.

In the 16th century, the PAUK surname appeared in the "Metryka Litewska" (Lithuanian Metrica), a collection of official documents from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This record provides insight into the presence of individuals with the PAUK surname in the region during that time period.

One notable figure bearing the PAUK surname was Jan Pauk (1570-1635), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Swedish wars of the early 17th century. He is mentioned in various historical accounts for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another individual of note was Andrzej Pauk (1620-1687), a renowned Polish painter and artist of the Baroque period. His works adorned many churches and palaces across Poland, showcasing his skill and contribution to the artistic legacy of the time.

In the 19th century, the PAUK surname gained further recognition with the birth of Jakub Pauk (1825-1898), a prominent Polish writer and journalist. His literary works explored themes of social justice and national identity, reflecting the cultural and political climate of his era.

Throughout its history, the PAUK surname has been associated with various locations and place names across Eastern Europe. Some examples include the village of Paukowo in modern-day Poland, and the town of Paukovichi in Belarus, both likely derived from the surname itself or vice versa.

While the PAUK surname has its roots in Eastern Europe, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by generations of individuals who have migrated and established communities in various countries. However, its origins and early historical footprints remain firmly rooted in the region where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pauk

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

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 Pauk was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 82.63% 195
Non-Hispanic Black Only 2.12% 5
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 11.86% 28
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Pauk has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 82.63% 87.73% -5.99%
Black 2.12% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 11.86% 7.73% 42.16%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Pauk last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/pauk-surname-popularity/.

"Pauk last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/pauk-surname-popularity/. Accessed 18 May, 2025

Pauk last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/pauk-surname-popularity/.

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