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

Tokar, 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 Tokar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tokar in America

Tokar is the 20065th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tokar surname appeared 1,332 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 Tokar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tokar 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 Tokar

The surname Tokar has its origins in Poland, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "tokarz," which refers to a turner or lathe worker. This occupational surname suggests that the earliest bearers were involved in woodturning or related crafts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Akta Grodzkie, a collection of Polish court records from the 15th and 16th centuries. In these documents, a certain Jan Tokar is mentioned in relation to a court case in the town of Krakow in the year 1487.

During the Middle Ages, the name Tokar likely had several spelling variations, including Tokarz, Tokarczyk, and Tokarczuk. These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings in that era, which often depended on regional dialects and the preferences of scribes and record-keepers.

In the 16th century, the town of Tokarnia in central Poland was named after a family with the surname Tokar, indicating their presence and influence in the area. This place name connection further reinforces the deep roots of the surname in Polish history.

One notable historical figure bearing the Tokar surname was Jan Tokar (1540-1607), a Polish Renaissance painter and architect who contributed to the development of the Mannerist style in Poland. His works can be found in various churches and castles throughout the country.

Another significant bearer of the name was Michał Tokar (1767-1825), a Polish general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the November Uprising against the Russian Empire. He is remembered for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, Józef Tokar (1818-1876) was a prominent Polish educator and writer who advocated for the use of the Polish language in schools and literature. His efforts played a crucial role in preserving Polish cultural identity during a period of foreign occupation.

The surname Tokar also found its way to other parts of Europe, particularly in regions with significant Polish populations. For instance, Grigory Tokar (1890-1937) was a Soviet military commander of Polish descent who played a role in the Russian Civil War and the early years of the Soviet Union.

In more recent times, Jerzy Tokar (1931-2010) was a respected Polish actor and director, known for his contributions to both stage and screen. He received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, cementing his place in the history of Polish theatre and film.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tokar

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

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

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

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