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

Sawatzke, 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 Sawatzke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sawatzke in America

Sawatzke is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sawatzke surname appeared 201 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 Sawatzke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sawatzke 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 Sawatzke

The surname Sawatzke is of German origin, originating in the region of Pomerania, which today spans parts of northeastern Germany and northwestern Poland. It is believed to have emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century, derived from the German word "Sauwasser," which translates to "sow water" or "swine water."

This name likely referred to a geographical feature, such as a stream or body of water frequented by wild boars or swine. It may have been used to identify individuals living near or associated with such a location. Variations in spelling over time included Sawatzki, Sawatzky, and Sawatzki.

One of the earliest known records of the name appears in a 1548 church register from the town of Greifenberg, in what is now western Poland. The entry mentions a Claus Sawatzke, who may have been among the first to bear this surname.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name can be found in various records and documents from the Pomeranian region, including tax rolls, land deeds, and marriage registers. Notable individuals with this surname during this period include Johann Sawatzke (1642-1718), a prominent farmer and landowner in the village of Schönfeld.

As the Sawatzke family spread throughout northern Germany and neighboring areas, the name appeared in different localities and regional variations. For instance, in the 19th century, there were Sawatzke families living in the Prussian cities of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) and Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia).

One of the most notable figures with this surname was Heinrich Sawatzke (1817-1892), a German-born painter and illustrator who worked in Sweden. He is best known for his landscapes and illustrations of Swedish folklore and mythology.

Other individuals of note include Wilhelm Sawatzke (1855-1924), a German politician and member of the Reichstag in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Otto Sawatzke (1892-1959), a German architect and urban planner who worked extensively in Berlin during the interwar period.

While the name Sawatzke is relatively uncommon outside of Germany and neighboring regions, it has been carried by individuals across various professions and walks of life throughout its history, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have borne this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sawatzke

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

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

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

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