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

Placek, 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 Placek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Placek in America

Placek is the 22646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Placek surname appeared 1,133 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 Placek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Placek 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 Placek

The surname Placek has its origins in Poland, where it emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Polish word "placek," which means a small, flat cake or pastry. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who made or sold such pastries, or perhaps had a fondness for them.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various Polish historical documents and records from the 14th and 15th centuries, although the exact dates and locations are uncertain. The name may have been associated with certain regions or towns in Poland, but there is no definitive evidence of specific place names from which it originated.

One notable bearer of the Placek surname was Jan Placek, a Polish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 15th century. He fought in several wars against the Teutonic Knights and played a role in the Polish-Lithuanian victory at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.

In the 16th century, a man named Jakub Placek was a prominent merchant and trader in the city of Krakow. He was involved in the trade of various goods, including textiles and spices, and his business dealings extended throughout Europe.

Another historical figure with the Placek surname was Andrzej Placek, a Polish painter and artist who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his religious paintings and frescoes that adorned several churches and monasteries in Poland.

In the 18th century, there was a Polish nobleman named Stanisław Placek who served as a military officer and fought in the wars against the Russian Empire. He was also involved in political affairs and served as a member of the Sejm, the Polish parliament, during that time.

Towards the end of the 19th century, a woman named Maria Placek gained recognition as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Poland. She established several schools and educational institutions for girls and worked to promote equal opportunities for women in education and professional fields.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the Placek surname throughout history. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, military leaders, merchants, artists, and educators.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Placek

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

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

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

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