Tretyak last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Tretyak

An occupational surname derived from a Russian word meaning "third".

Tretyak, 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 Tretyak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tretyak in America

Tretyak is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tretyak surname appeared 116 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 Tretyak.

The history of the last name Tretyak

The surname TRETYAK is of Russian origin, originating in the 16th century. It is derived from the Russian word "tretiy," meaning "third," and was likely originally an occupational name for a third-born son or a nickname for a person who held a third position or rank in a particular field.

The earliest known record of the TRETYAK surname dates back to the 16th century in the region of Moscow and surrounding areas. It is believed to have been associated with various occupations, such as artisans or tradesmen, where third-born sons or those holding a third position were identified by this name.

In the 17th century, the name TRETYAK appeared in several historical records, including the Pistsovye Knigi, which were census books maintained by the Russian government. These books documented the names of landowners and peasants in various regions, providing valuable information about the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that period.

One notable figure bearing the TRETYAK surname was Ivan Tretyak, a prominent Russian merchant and landowner who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures and his philanthropic contributions to the city of Moscow.

Another individual of historical significance was Fyodor Tretyak, a military commander who participated in the Russo-Turkish Wars of the 18th century. He played a crucial role in several battles and was recognized for his bravery and strategic leadership.

In the 19th century, the TRETYAK surname gained further recognition with the birth of Aleksandr Tretyak (1818-1892), a renowned Russian artist renowned for his landscapes and genre paintings. His works are now part of the collections of major museums in Russia and abroad.

The name TRETYAK also has associations with various place names in Russia. For example, the village of Tretyakovo in the Ryazan Oblast is believed to have been named after an early settler with the TRETYAK surname.

Throughout history, the TRETYAK surname has been carried by numerous individuals, spanning various professions and social strata, from merchants and landowners to artists and military leaders. While the name's origins can be traced back to the 16th century in Russia, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tretyak

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

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 Tretyak was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 99.14% 115
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Tretyak last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/tretyak-surname-popularity/.

"Tretyak last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/tretyak-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 August, 2025

Tretyak last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/tretyak-surname-popularity/.

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