Polanski
A Polish surname indicating the bearer's geographic origin or former residence.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 617 Americans carry the last name Polanski. That puts it at #41,579 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 555,518 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Polanski surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
617
1 in 555,518
Census rank
#41,579
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
523
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 523 bearers of the surname Polanski in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 41579th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Polanski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Polanski
The surname Polanski originated in Poland, tracing its roots back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "pole," meaning "field" or "countryside," and may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in rural areas.
During the Middle Ages, surnames became increasingly common in Poland, often reflecting a person's occupation, place of origin, or physical characteristics. The name Polanski likely emerged as a descriptive surname, initially identifying individuals who hailed from specific rural regions or towns.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Polanski can be found in a 14th-century Polish census record, which mentions a Mikołaj Polanski residing in the village of Polanka near Krakow. This suggests that the name may have originated as a locational surname, denoting a person's connection to a particular place.
In the 16th century, the name Polanski appears in several historical documents, including legal records and property deeds. Notable individuals from this period include Jan Polanski (1523-1587), a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Poznan, and Katarzyna Polanska (1541-1612), a renowned herbalist and midwife who practiced in the region of Lesser Poland.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Polanski name continued to spread across Poland, with several families of notable aristocratic and intellectual lineage bearing the surname. One such figure was Józef Polanski (1676-1744), a respected scholar and professor of philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
In the 19th century, the name Polanski gained further recognition with the birth of Władysław Polanski (1810-1878), a celebrated Polish composer and pianist who gained fame for his innovative compositions and virtuosic performances throughout Europe.
Another prominent individual with the Polanski surname was Maria Polanska (1884-1972), a pioneering Polish educator and advocate for women's rights, who played a crucial role in establishing several educational institutions and promoting equal opportunities for women in Poland.
Throughout its history, the surname Polanski has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, academics, politicians, and entrepreneurs, all contributing to the rich tapestry of Polish culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Polanski
Among Census respondents with the surname Polanski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Polanski bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Polanski surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Two or more races1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Polanski surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,579 | #41,579 | 0.0% |
| Count | 523 | 523 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Polanski bearers went from 523 to 523 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #41,579 to #41,579.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Polanski
FAQ
Polanski surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Polanski?
The surname Polanski holds position #41,579 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 617 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Polanski surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Polanski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.