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

Ptak, 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 Ptak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ptak in America

Ptak is the 16370th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ptak surname appeared 1,759 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ptak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ptak 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 Ptak

The surname Ptak has its origins in Poland, tracing back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Polish word "ptak," which means "bird." The name likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who exhibited bird-like characteristics or had a particular affinity for birds.

In medieval Poland, the use of surnames emerged as a way to distinguish individuals and families. Ptak was one of the early surnames adopted, possibly referring to a person's occupation, such as a bird catcher or someone who worked with birds in some capacity.

Some of the earliest records of the Ptak name can be found in historical documents from the regions of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and Silesia (Śląsk). The name appears in various old records, including parish registers and land ownership documents from the 15th and 16th centuries.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the Ptak surname was Jan Ptak, a landowner and prominent figure in the town of Poznań in the mid-15th century. His name is mentioned in several legal documents and municipal records from that time.

Another notable figure was Maciej Ptak, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in Kraków during the late 16th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade of spices and textiles between Poland and the Ottoman Empire.

In the 17th century, the Ptak name gained prominence in the region of Masovia (Mazowsze), where several members of the family held positions of influence within the local nobility and clergy. Tomasz Ptak, born in 1625, was a respected priest and scholar who authored several theological works.

The 18th century saw the rise of Jakub Ptak, a renowned military commander who fought in the struggles against the partitions of Poland. He was recognized for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield.

As the Ptak surname spread across Poland, it also found its way into neighboring countries, such as Lithuania and Ukraine, where it was adopted by families of Polish descent.

Throughout history, the Ptak name has been associated with various occupations, from farmers and tradesmen to artists and intellectuals. While the name may have originated as a descriptive term, it has since become a proud part of Polish heritage and identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ptak

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

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

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

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