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

Vukaj, 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 Vukaj surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vukaj in America

Vukaj is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vukaj surname appeared 144 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 Vukaj.

The history of the last name Vukaj

The surname VUKAJ is of Albanian origin, originating from the Malësi e Madhe region in northern Albania during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Albanian word "vuk," which means "wolf," and may have been used as a nickname or byname for someone with wolf-like characteristics or who lived in an area with wolves.

The earliest recorded instances of the VUKAJ surname can be traced back to the 15th century, appearing in various historical records and documents from the region. One notable example is a reference to a man named Pal Vukaj, who was mentioned in a land dispute settlement from 1492 in the village of Kelmend.

In the 16th century, the VUKAJ surname was also found in certain Ottoman Empire records, indicating that individuals with this name had interactions or dealings with the Ottoman authorities during that time period. A few examples include a man named Gjon Vukaj, who was listed as a taxpayer in the Shkodra region in 1532, and a Pjetër Vukaj, who was recorded as a landowner in the Malësi e Madhe area in 1587.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the VUKAJ surname continued to be present in various regions of northern Albania, particularly in the Malësi e Madhe and Dukagjini areas. Some notable individuals from this period include Lekë Vukaj (1670-1743), a prominent clan leader and military commander, and Pal Vukaj (1725-1798), a renowned poet and writer whose works contributed to the preservation of Albanian oral literature and folklore.

In the 19th century, as the Albanian national awakening movement gained momentum, several individuals with the VUKAJ surname played significant roles. One such figure was Prenk Vukaj (1820-1892), a patriot and activist who fought for Albanian independence and the preservation of Albanian culture and traditions.

Another prominent figure was Marash Vukaj (1855-1925), a writer and educator who authored several textbooks and works aimed at promoting Albanian language and education. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Albanian literature and played a crucial role in the development of the Albanian alphabet and standardization of the language.

It is important to note that while the VUKAJ surname has deep historical roots in Albania, it has also spread to other regions and countries due to migration and diaspora communities. However, this report focuses solely on the historical origins and instances of the surname within the Albanian context.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vukaj

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

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 Vukaj 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.

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

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

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