Salk
An occupational surname indicating a person employed in salt-related work.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Salk. That puts it at #55,741 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Salk 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
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#55,741
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
368
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 368 bearers of the surname Salk in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 55741st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Salk, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Salk
The surname SALK is of uncertain origin, with several possible explanations for its derivation. One theory suggests that it is a locational name from the village of Salk, located in the Netherlands. This village was first mentioned in historical records in the 13th century, and its name is believed to derive from the Old Dutch word "salec," meaning "willow" or "sallow."
Another potential origin for the SALK surname is that it may be a variant spelling of the German name Salch, which is derived from the Old German word "salaha," meaning "willow thicket." This name was particularly common in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony during the medieval period.
Early records of the SALK surname can be found in various historical documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulphus de Salca in Lincolnshire, England. Other early references include the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1196, which list a person named Rogerus de Salk.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the SALK surname was Johann SALK, a German Protestant theologian and reformer who lived in the 16th century (1499-1560). Another notable figure was Friedrich SALK (1733-1805), a German philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of calculus.
In the 19th century, the SALK surname gained prominence with the birth of Jonas SALK (1914-1995), the American medical researcher and virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccine. His groundbreaking work in immunology and virology has had a lasting impact on global public health.
Other notable individuals with the SALK surname include Robert SALK (1926-2019), an American physicist and author, and Peter SALK (born 1942), a renowned psychiatrist and author who is the son of Jonas SALK.
Throughout history, variations of the SALK surname have emerged, such as Salke, Salkey, and Salkey-Britten. These variations may reflect regional differences or changes in spelling over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Salk
Among Census respondents with the surname Salk, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Salk 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 Salk surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Salk 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 | #55,741 | #55,741 | 0.0% |
| Count | 368 | 368 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Salk bearers went from 368 to 368 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #55,741 to #55,741.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Salk
FAQ
Salk surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Salk?
The surname Salk holds position #55,741 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Salk surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Salk, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%). 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.