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

Podgornik, 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 Podgornik surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Podgornik in America

Podgornik is the 140756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Podgornik surname appeared 109 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Podgornik.

The history of the last name Podgornik

The surname Podgornik has its origins in Slovenia, a country situated in Central Europe. The name is derived from old Slavic roots, particularly from the words "pod" meaning "below" or "under," and "gora" translating to "mountain" or "hill." Therefore, Podgornik can be interpreted to mean "someone living below the mountain" or "under the hill."

Historically, the surname Podgornik is found predominantly in the mountainous regions of Slovenia, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country. This geographical distribution aligns with the meaning of the name, as these areas are characterized by hilly and mountainous terrain.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Podgornik date back to medieval times, appearing in various church and land records. For example, a manuscript dating back to the 15th century in the Carniola region, now part of modern Slovenia, mentions a certain Jurij Podgornik, a landowner who was known for his contributions to the local monastery.

Another notable historical figure is Mihael Podgornik, born in 1672 and died in 1741, who served as a prominent local leader and was instrumental in some of the regional socio-political developments of his time. Records from the late 17th century also indicate that the Podgornik family had established themselves as influential landowners and community figures in the Upper Carniola area.

During the 18th century, Janez Podgornik made a name for himself as a respected academic and author of several treatises on agronomy. Born in 1705 and passing away in 1763, he significantly influenced agricultural practices in the region, which were key to Slovenia's rural economy.

In the 19th century, the name Podgornik gained further recognition through Ivan Podgornik, born 1832 and died 1895, who was a well-regarded poet and contributed richly to Slovenian literature. His works often reflected the pastoral and mountainous landscapes of his homeland, resonating deeply with the local populace.

Entering the 20th century, the surname continued to be associated with notable individuals, such as Francka Podgornik. Born in 1908, Francka was an educator and activist who played a key role in advancing women's rights and educational reforms in Slovenia, until her death in 1984. Her legacy remains influential in the country's progressive movements.

The surname Podgornik, with its roots deeply embedded in the Slovenian landscape and its history, has thus marked its presence through various periods, contributing significantly to the region's cultural and socio-economic tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Podgornik

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Podgornik 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.

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

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

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