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

Switaj, 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 Switaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Switaj in America

Switaj is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Switaj surname appeared 148 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 Switaj.

We can also compare 2010 data for Switaj 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 Switaj

The surname SWITAJ has its origins in Poland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "świt," meaning "dawn" or "daybreak," suggesting that it may have been originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was an early riser or had a particular association with the morning hours.

The name SWITAJ first appeared in historical records in the town of Krakow, which was a prominent center of trade and culture in Poland during the Renaissance period. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jan SWITAJ, a merchant who lived in Krakow in the late 1500s and was mentioned in several business transactions recorded in the city's archives.

In the 17th century, the name SWITAJ spread to other regions of Poland, particularly the areas around Warsaw and Poznań. During this time, the name was sometimes spelled in various ways, such as "Switay" or "Swytaj," reflecting the regional variations in Polish pronunciation and spelling conventions.

A notable figure bearing the SWITAJ surname was Tomasz SWITAJ, a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Polish-Swedish War in the mid-17th century. He was born in 1620 and died in battle in 1655, defending the city of Kraków against Swedish forces.

Another historical figure was Katarzyna SWITAJ, a wealthy landowner from the Poznań region who lived in the late 18th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and donated a significant portion of her estate to establish a school for underprivileged children in her local community.

In the 19th century, the SWITAJ surname gained prominence in the field of education. Józef SWITAJ, born in 1825, was a renowned teacher and author of several influential textbooks used in Polish schools during that era.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the name SWITAJ began to appear in historical records outside of Poland, as some individuals bearing the surname immigrated to other parts of Europe and North America. For example, Andrzej SWITAJ, born in 1870, was a Polish immigrant who settled in Chicago, USA, and became a successful businessman in the city's thriving Polish community.

Throughout its history, the surname SWITAJ has been associated with various professions and walks of life, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its bearers. While the name's origins can be traced back to 16th-century Poland, it has since become a part of the broader Polish diaspora, carried by individuals who have contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Switaj

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

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

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

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