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Very Rare Last name

Wachowski

A Polish surname derived from the term "wach" meaning guard or watchman.

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 788 Americans carry the last name Wachowski. That puts it at #33,596 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.23 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 434,967 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wachowski surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.

Bearers in the US

788

1 in 434,967

Census rank

#33,596

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

0.2

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

678

very rare in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 678 bearers of the surname Wachowski in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 33596th position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Wachowski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Wachowski

The surname Wachowski has its origins in Poland, emerging in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is derived from the Polish word "wachować," which means "to guard" or "to watch over." The name likely referred to an occupation or profession related to guarding or keeping watch, such as a night watchman or a sentry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wachowski can be found in the 1810 Prussian census records, where it appears as "Wachowski" in the region of Pomerania, which was then under Prussian rule. This region is now divided between modern-day Poland and Germany.

In the early 19th century, the name Wachowski was also found in the records of the Russian Empire, particularly in the areas that are now part of Belarus and Ukraine. This suggests that the name may have spread from Poland to these neighboring regions.

One notable figure with the surname Wachowski was Jan Wachowski, a Polish military officer who fought in the November Uprising against the Russian Empire in 1830-1831. He was born in 1796 and died in 1862.

Another individual of note was Franciszek Wachowski, a Polish writer and journalist who lived from 1820 to 1879. He wrote for several Polish newspapers and was known for his satirical works.

In the late 19th century, the Wachowski name can be found in various records from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly in the regions of Galicia and Lodomeria, which are now part of modern-day Poland and Ukraine.

One example is Stanisław Wachowski, a Polish-Austrian painter and illustrator who lived from 1869 to 1953. He was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works were exhibited in Vienna and other cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Another notable figure was Józef Wachowski, a Polish military officer and politician who lived from 1868 to 1939. He served in the Austro-Hungarian army and later became involved in Polish politics after World War I.

As Polish immigrants began to settle in other parts of the world, the Wachowski name spread to various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it is important to note that the earliest recorded examples and historical references for the name are primarily found in Polish and Eastern European regions.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Wachowski

Among Census respondents with the surname Wachowski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).

The bar chart below shows how Wachowski bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.

Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wachowski surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • White96.0%
  • Two or more races1.8%
  • Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
  • Hispanic or Latino0.9%

Year on year

2010 vs 2010 Census

How has the Wachowski surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20102010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents20102010201020106786780.20.2
Metric 2010 2010 Change
Rank #33,596 #33,596 0.0%
Count 678 678 0.0%
Per 100K 0.23 0.23 0.0%

Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Wachowski bearers went from 678 to 678 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #33,596 to #33,596.

Notable bearers

Famous people with the surname Wachowski

FAQ

Wachowski surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Wachowski?

The surname Wachowski holds position #33,596 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 788 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.23 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Wachowski surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Wachowski, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.

Where does this surname data come from?

All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.

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There are 788 people

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Wachowski

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