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

Rygalski, 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 Rygalski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rygalski in America

Rygalski is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rygalski surname appeared 139 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 Rygalski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rygalski 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 Rygalski

The surname Rygalski originated in Poland, with roots dating back to the 15th century. The name likely stems from the Polish word "ryga," meaning a ridge or elevated ground, combined with the possessive suffix "-lski." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived on or near a ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rygalski name appears in a Polish census record from the town of Krakow in the year 1487, listing a certain Jan Rygalski as a landowner. Another early reference can be found in a 16th-century manuscript from the village of Ryglice, where a family with the surname Rygalski is mentioned.

During the 17th century, the Rygalski name gained prominence in the region of Galicia, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Notable individuals from this period include Marcin Rygalski (1602-1678), a respected scholar and philosopher who authored several treatises on logic and metaphysics.

As the Polish nobility gained influence in the 18th century, the Rygalski surname became associated with several aristocratic families. One such family, the Rygalskis of Rzeszów, produced several notable figures, including Józef Rygalski (1722-1795), a military officer who fought in the Bar Confederation against Russian influence in Poland.

In the 19th century, the Rygalski name appeared in various historical records from the regions of Silesia and Pomerania, which were then under Prussian rule. One notable figure from this era was Karol Rygalski (1835-1912), a pioneering engineer who contributed to the development of early steam engines and railway infrastructure.

Another prominent individual with the Rygalski surname was Wacław Rygalski (1877-1953), a Polish artist and painter who was part of the Young Poland movement. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural life, are celebrated for their vibrant colors and impressionistic style.

As the 20th century dawned, the Rygalski name continued to be associated with various fields, including academia and politics. Henryk Rygalski (1904-1987) was a respected linguist and professor at the University of Warsaw, while Tadeusz Rygalski (1918-2002) served as a member of the Polish Sejm (parliament) and was active in the Solidarity movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rygalski

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

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

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

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