Shenkoꞌ last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Shenkoꞌ

An Americanized form of the Polish surname Szenka, derived from the nickname Szenek.

Shenkoꞌ, 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 Shenkoꞌ surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Shenkoꞌ in America

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

The Shenkoꞌ 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 Shenkoꞌ.

The history of the last name Shenkoꞌ

The surname Shenko has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within the regions that are now part of Ukraine and Russia. The name likely originated during the Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is believed to be a diminutive or patronymic form related to the Old Slavic word "shen," which means "to serve" or "serve in a household." This etymology suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have had roles within servitude or domestic duties.

The Shenko name appears in various historical references, as the region transitioned through periods of differing sovereign states, such as the Kievan Rus, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This movement through different territories contributed to the evolution of the surname and its spelling variations. Manuscripts from as early as the 16th century mention families with similar names, such as Shenkov and Shenkevich, which are likely related variants derived from the same root.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Shenko is found in a 1565 land registry in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where a Vasyl Shenko is noted as a local landholder. This record signifies the surname's establishment and usage within noble or landowning classes during that era.

During the 17th century, Anatoliy Shenko, born in 1641 and died in 1709, emerges as another prominent figure bearing the surname. He was known as a Cossack hetman, playing a significant role in maintaining the autonomy of the Cossacks amidst Polish and Russian influences. Anatoliy's leadership and military strategies were vital in shaping the region's history.

In the 18th century, the name appears in records of burghers and merchants in Kyiv. One particular mention from 1723 is of a Bohdan Shenko, a prosperous trader who significantly contributed to the local economy by facilitating trade routes between Ukraine and neighboring regions.

Moving into the 19th century, documentation reveals that the surname Shenko continued to be common among various social strata. For example, a notable individual, Maria Shenko, born in 1820 and died in 1897, became a renowned folk poet whose works reflected the cultural and social dynamics of rural Ukraine. Her contributions to literature and folklore earned her a place in the annals of Ukrainian cultural history.

In more recent historical contexts, Ivan Shenko, born in 1888 and died in 1954, was a prominent agrarian reformer and politician in post-revolutionary Russia. Known for his progressive ideas and advocacy for peasant rights, Ivan's policies and writings have been studied for their impact on Soviet agricultural practices and rural development.

Through these historical references and notable individuals, the Shenko surname reveals a rich tapestry of cultural and social significance, showcasing its enduring presence and evolution within Eastern European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shenkoꞌ

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

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 Shenkoꞌ was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.20% 96
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

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"Shenkoꞌ last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/shenko-surname-popularity/.

"Shenkoꞌ last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/shenko-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Shenkoꞌ last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/shenko-surname-popularity/.

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