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

Potas, 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 Potas surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Potas in America

Potas is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Potas surname appeared 103 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 Potas.

The history of the last name Potas

The surname Potas has its origin in Eastern Europe, with particular roots in Poland. The name appears to have surfaced in the medieval period, specifically around the 14th century. The regions associated with the surname include Greater Poland and the Masovian Voivodeship. The surname is believed to derive from the Polish word "potas," which translates to "potash," a substance used historically in glass making and soap production. This etymological root indicates the surname could have originated from an occupation related to the production or trade of potash.

The first known appearance of the surname Potas in historical records dates back to the early 1400s in Poland's royal tax registries. These early records indicate the presence of families engaged in the potash industry, suggesting economic activities tied to natural resources. This vocational link is a crucial aspect of understanding the origin and initial spread of the surname. Although there are no direct mentions in documents as famed as the Domesday Book, other local manuscripts and tax rolls from the same period corroborate its presence.

One significant historical figure with the surname Potas was Jan Potas, born in 1451 in Kraków, Poland. Jan was a notable merchant involved in the trade of potash and other commodities. His business activities helped to establish the name's prominence within the mercantile circles of medieval Poland. A later notable individual was Katarzyna Potas, born in 1533 in Warsaw, who became known for her philanthropic efforts, founding several charitable institutions in the region.

In the 17th century, records show that the surname Potas had made its way to other areas of Central Europe. One of the earliest recorded migrations involved Michał Potas, who relocated to Bohemia around 1620. Michał was noted in historical records for his contributions to the burgeoning potash trade in that region. His descendants continued to flourish, with notable mentions in various municipal archives.

An important 18th-century figure was Aleksander Potas, born in 1746 in Poznań. He was a renowned scholar and writer, contributing significantly to Polish literature and historical studies. Aleksander's works included detailed accounts of Polish economic history, further underscoring the occupational heritage of his surname.

By the 19th century, the Potas surname had garnered a degree of recognition through the accomplishments of individuals such as Emilia Potas (born in 1832 in Lublin), who became a celebrated poet and feminist activist. Emilia's writings and public engagements played a significant role in the cultural and social movements of her time, solidifying the Potas name in the annals of Polish literary and social history.

Through its evolution and the notable figures associated with it, the surname Potas remains a testament to the occupational and regional heritage of medieval Poland and its subsequent impact on Central European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Potas

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!