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

Sobczak, 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 Sobczak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sobczak in America

Sobczak is the 11484th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sobczak surname appeared 2,740 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sobczak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sobczak 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 Sobczak

The surname SOBCZAK originated in Poland, deriving from the Polish word "sobka," which means "woodpecker." The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, referring to someone with a physical characteristic or occupation associated with woodpeckers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SOBCZAK surname dates back to the 15th century in the town of Bydgoszcz, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland. The name appeared in historical records, such as parish registers and municipal documents, reflecting its presence among the local population.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SOBCZAK surname was found in various regions of Poland, including Wielkopolska, Silesia, and Masovia. It was particularly prevalent in rural areas, where people often took surnames derived from nature or occupations related to the land.

In the 18th century, notable figures bearing the SOBCZAK surname included Jan Sobczak (1720-1789), a Polish landowner and nobleman from the Kraków region, and Michał Sobczak (1745-1810), a renowned woodcarver from the town of Przemyśl, renowned for his intricate religious sculptures adorning local churches.

The 19th century saw the SOBCZAK surname spread throughout the Polish territories, with several individuals leaving their mark in various fields. Józef Sobczak (1832-1901) was a prominent painter from Warsaw, known for his landscapes and portraits of the Polish gentry. Stanisław Sobczak (1854-1928) was a respected linguist and professor at the University of Kraków, contributing to the study of Slavic languages.

In the early 20th century, Wacław Sobczak (1901-1978) was a celebrated Polish poet and translator, renowned for his translations of works by William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. His contemporaries included Franciszek Sobczak (1905-1982), a World War II resistance fighter and recipient of the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military decoration.

These examples highlight the long-standing presence of the SOBCZAK surname in Poland, reflecting its journey through various regions, professions, and historical periods. While the name's origins may be humble, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, contributing to the rich tapestry of Polish culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sobczak

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

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

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

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