Smolinski
Derived from the Polish word "smola," meaning "pitch" or "resin," likely referring to an occupation involving these substances.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,468 Americans carry the last name Smolinski. That puts it at #14,139 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.72 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 138,879 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Smolinski 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
2.5K
1 in 138,879
Census rank
#14,139
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,125 bearers of the surname Smolinski in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14139th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Smolinski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Smolinski
The surname Smolinski originates from Poland, where it first emerged in the early 15th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "smola," which means "tar" or "pitch," indicating that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in occupations related to the production or trade of tar or pitch.
The name Smolinski is believed to have originated in the region of Masovia, a historical land located in east-central Poland. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the historical records of the towns and villages in this region, such as the Parish Records of Ciechanów and Płock.
In the 16th century, the Smolinski surname appeared in several historical documents, including the Polish Nobility Book (Księga Rodów Polskich) and the Heraldic Armorials of the Polish nobility. This suggests that some members of the Smolinski family achieved noble status during this period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Smolinski was Jan Smolinski, who lived in the town of Płock in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Maciej Smolinski, a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Ciechanów, who lived in the mid-16th century.
In the 17th century, the Smolinski family spread across various regions of Poland, with some members settling in the area of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and Lesser Poland (Małopolska). During this time, the name also appeared in various spellings, such as Smoliński, Smolińsky, and Smolenski.
One of the most famous individuals with the Smolinski surname was Kazimierz Smoliński (1637-1703), a Polish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Polish-Ottoman Wars of the late 17th century.
Another notable figure was Józef Smoliński (1808-1876), a Polish writer, journalist, and political activist who was involved in the November Uprising against the Russian Empire in 1830-1831.
In the 19th century, the Smolinski surname was also found among Polish immigrants who settled in various parts of the United States, particularly in cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee, where they established vibrant Polish communities.
Overall, the surname Smolinski has a rich history rooted in the traditions and occupations of medieval Poland, with various branches of the family achieving prominence in different fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Smolinski
Among Census respondents with the surname Smolinski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Smolinski 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 Smolinski surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Smolinski 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,128 | #14,139 | -7.7% |
| Count | 2,135 | 2,125 | -0.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.79 | 0.72 | -8.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Smolinski bearers went from 2,135 to 2,125 (-0.5% change). The surname moved down 1,011 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,128 to #14,139.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Smolinski
FAQ
Smolinski surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Smolinski?
The surname Smolinski holds position #14,139 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,468 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Smolinski surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Smolinski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). 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.