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

Skutnik, 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 Skutnik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Skutnik in America

Skutnik is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Skutnik surname appeared 320 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 Skutnik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Skutnik 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 Skutnik

The surname Skutnik is of Polish origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "skut," which means "forged" or "hammered," suggesting a potential connection to metalworking or blacksmithing trades.

The earliest known records of the Skutnik name can be found in historical documents from the Krakow region of Poland, where it was commonly used among families residing in rural areas and small villages. It is likely that the name was initially adopted as a descriptive surname, identifying individuals whose occupation involved metalwork or forging.

During the 16th century, the Skutnik name began to appear in various town and parish records across central and southern Poland. One notable example is the mention of a Jakub Skutnik in the 1567 tax records of the town of Tarnów, indicating the presence of the family in that region.

In the 17th century, the Skutnik name gained prominence with the birth of Jan Skutnik (1629-1697), a renowned Polish painter and engraver. His exceptional artistic talents earned him recognition throughout Europe, and his works can be found in numerous galleries and museums today.

Another significant figure bearing the Skutnik surname was Marcin Skutnik (1745-1822), a Polish military officer who fought in the Kościuszko Uprising against the Russian Empire. His bravery and leadership during the conflict earned him a place in Poland's historical narrative.

As the Skutnik family spread across different regions of Poland, variations in spelling emerged, such as Skutnick, Skutnicki, and Skutnitzki. These variations often reflected local dialects and pronunciation patterns.

In the 19th century, the Skutnik name was also found in the records of Polish immigrants who settled in various parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin. One notable American of Polish descent bearing the Skutnik surname was Lenny Skutnik (1957-), a former government employee who gained national recognition for his heroic act of rescuing a woman from the icy waters of the Potomac River in 1982.

Other notable individuals with the Skutnik surname include Kazimierz Skutnik (1895-1940), a Polish military officer who fought against the Nazi German invasion of Poland during World War II, and Władysław Skutnik (1908-1991), a Polish architect and urban planner responsible for the design of several iconic buildings in Warsaw.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Skutnik

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

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

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

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