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

Polaco, 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 Polaco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polaco in America

Polaco is the 106570th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polaco surname appeared 167 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 Polaco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polaco 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 Polaco

The surname Polaco is of Spanish origin, deriving from the word "polaco" which means "Polish". It emerged in the late 15th century during a time of increased contact between Spain and Poland, particularly in the context of trade and cultural exchange.

The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a person's place of birth or ancestry. It may have been applied to individuals who had ties to Poland, either through direct migration or through familial connections.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Polaco can be found in the archives of the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain. A document from the year 1525 mentions a certain Juan Polaco, who was listed as a merchant engaged in trade between Spain and the Baltic region.

In the 16th century, the name appears to have gained prominence in certain regions of Spain, particularly in areas with significant trade and commercial activities. Records from the city of Cadiz mention several individuals bearing the surname Polaco, including Diego Polaco, a wealthy merchant born in 1571.

As the Spanish Empire expanded across the Americas, the surname Polaco was carried to the New World by colonists and immigrants. Historical records from the 17th century indicate the presence of individuals with this surname in various parts of Latin America, including Mexico and Peru.

One notable figure bearing the surname Polaco was Bartolomé Polaco, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied the famous expedition led by Álvaro de Mendaña y Neira in the late 16th century. Polaco played a crucial role in charting the course and mapping the islands of the Pacific Ocean during this voyage.

In the realm of literature, the Spanish playwright and poet Juan Polaco, born in 1612 in Madrid, gained recognition for his contributions to the Spanish Golden Age. His works, which included plays and poetic compositions, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Another individual of historical significance was María Polaco, a renowned painter from the 17th century who hailed from Seville. Her works, which included portraiture and religious themes, were celebrated for their skilled use of color and composition.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Polaco has continued to be present in various parts of the Spanish-speaking world, with notable individuals bearing this name making contributions across various fields, including the arts, literature, and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polaco

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

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

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

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