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

Piestrak, 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 Piestrak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Piestrak in America

Piestrak is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Piestrak surname appeared 106 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 Piestrak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Piestrak 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 Piestrak

The surname Piestrak has its origins in Poland, tracing back to the early 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "piestrak," which means "speckled" or "mottled," potentially referring to someone with a speckled or spotted complexion.

In the earliest records, the name appears spelled as "Piestrak" or "Piestrakow," indicating a possible connection to a place name or location where the family may have originated. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in a municipal record from the town of Krakow, dated 1427, which mentions a landowner named Jan Piestrak.

During the 16th century, the name Piestrak gained prominence in the Polish nobility. Historical chronicles from the time mention a renowned military commander named Stanislaw Piestrak, who fought in the battles against the Teutonic Knights in the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, the Piestrak family expanded their influence, with several members holding prominent positions in the Catholic Church. One notable figure was Bishop Maciej Piestrak, who served as the Bishop of Warmia from 1652 to 1676.

As the Piestrak name spread across Poland, it also found its way into neighboring regions. In the early 19th century, a branch of the family settled in the city of Lviv, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. One of the most famous individuals from this lineage was the poet and playwright, Tadeusz Piestrak (1824-1891), whose works played a significant role in the cultural revival of the region.

Another notable bearer of the Piestrak surname was Katarzyna Piestrak (1870-1945), a prominent Polish educator and women's rights activist. Her efforts towards improving educational opportunities for women in the early 20th century earned her widespread recognition and respect.

Throughout its history, the surname Piestrak has been associated with various professions, from military figures and clergy members to artists and intellectuals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Piestrak

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

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

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

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