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

Sopko, 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 Sopko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sopko in America

Sopko is the 16203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sopko surname appeared 1,782 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 Sopko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sopko 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 Sopko

The surname Sopko is of Polish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the region of Lesser Poland, specifically around the city of Krakow. The name is derived from the Polish word "sop," which refers to a thick, resinous liquid obtained from certain trees, particularly pine or fir.

In the early days, the name Sopko was likely associated with individuals involved in the production or trade of this resinous substance, which was widely used for various purposes, such as waterproofing, insulation, and even as a primitive form of adhesive. The suffix "-ko" is a diminutive form, suggesting a connection to the occupation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sopko can be found in the Krakow Land Records, dating back to the late 15th century. These records document a certain Jan Sopko, who was a landowner in the region. Additionally, the name appears in the Gniezno Archdiocese Records from the 16th century, indicating its presence in the religious community.

During the 17th century, the name Sopko gained prominence in the region of Podlasie, where a family by the name of Sopko held significant landholdings and influence. Jakub Sopko (1620-1689), a prominent member of this family, served as a local official and was renowned for his contributions to the development of the region.

Another notable individual bearing the Sopko name was Tomasz Sopko (1758-1832), a Polish Catholic priest and writer who authored several religious texts and works on theology. His literary contributions played a significant role in the intellectual and spiritual discourse of his time.

Moving into the 19th century, the Sopko name gained recognition in the field of academia. Antoni Sopko (1811-1877) was a respected linguist and philologist, renowned for his research on the Polish language and its historical development.

In the 20th century, the Sopko surname continued to appear in various fields, such as art and science. Stanisław Sopko (1891-1962) was a celebrated Polish painter, known for his landscapes and portraits, while Mieczysław Sopko (1923-2008) was a renowned geologist and academic, who made significant contributions to the study of mineral resources in Poland.

It is important to note that while these individuals represent notable examples of the Sopko surname throughout history, the name has been carried by numerous families and individuals across different regions and time periods, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sopko

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

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

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

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