Sobieski
Polish surname derived from the Polish town of Sobieski.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,474 Americans carry the last name Sobieski. That puts it at #20,864 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.43 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 232,533 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sobieski 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
1.5K
1 in 232,533
Census rank
#20,864
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,264 bearers of the surname Sobieski in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.43 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 20864th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sobieski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sobieski
The surname Sobieski is of Polish origin, derived from the name of the village of Sobieszyn in the Lublin region of eastern Poland. The name is believed to have originated in the 14th or 15th century, and is thought to be derived from the Polish word "sobieski," which means "someone who is self-sufficient or self-reliant."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Sobieski can be found in historical documents dating back to the 16th century. In 1548, a record mentions a certain Jacek Sobieski, who was a landowner in the Lublin region. Another early reference to the name can be found in the Metryka Koronna, a collection of official documents from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which mentions a Stanisław Sobieski in 1580.
One of the most famous individuals to bear the surname Sobieski was Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696), a Polish King and military commander who is celebrated for leading the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to victory over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. His military prowess and leadership during this pivotal battle earned him the title of "Lion of Lechistan" and cemented his place in Polish history.
Other notable individuals with the surname Sobieski include Konstanty Sobieski (1638-1692), a Polish nobleman and military leader who served as the Castellan of Krakow and Grand Crown Hetman of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Jakub Sobieski (1590-1646), another notable bearer of the name, was a prominent Polish nobleman and father of King Jan III Sobieski.
In the 17th century, the Sobieski family was one of the most powerful noble families in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the name became closely associated with military leadership and political influence. The surname has also been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts from this period, further solidifying its place in Polish history.
Maria Kazimiera Sobieski (1641-1716), the wife of King Jan III Sobieski, was another prominent figure who carried the Sobieski name. She played a significant role in the political and cultural life of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during her husband's reign.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sobieski
Among Census respondents with the surname Sobieski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Sobieski 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 Sobieski surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- Unknown or suppressed0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sobieski 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 | #19,587 | #20,864 | -6.5% |
| Count | 1,274 | 1,264 | -0.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.47 | 0.43 | -8.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Sobieski bearers went from 1,274 to 1,264 (-0.8% change). The surname moved down 1,277 positions in the national ranking, going from #19,587 to #20,864.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sobieski
FAQ
Sobieski surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sobieski?
The surname Sobieski holds position #20,864 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,474 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.43 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sobieski surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sobieski, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.