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

Wesolek, 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 Wesolek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wesolek in America

Wesolek is the 50467th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wesolek surname appeared 414 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 Wesolek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wesolek 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 Wesolek

The surname Wesolek has its origins in Poland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is a Polish name derived from the word "wesoly," which means "cheerful" or "merry." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a cheerful demeanor or disposition.

In the early days, Wesolek was predominantly found in the central and southern regions of Poland, particularly in the areas around Krakow and Lublin. The name's spelling has remained relatively consistent over time, with minor variations such as Wesołek or Wesolyk appearing in some historical records.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the Wesolek surname can be found in the records of the town of Nowy Sącz, dating back to 1534. The entry refers to a certain Jan Wesolek, a local landowner and farmer.

In the 17th century, the Wesolek name gained prominence with the birth of Marcin Wesolek (1633-1709), a renowned Polish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of calculus and celestial mechanics, and his works were widely circulated throughout Europe.

Another notable figure bearing the Wesolek surname was Franciszek Wesolek (1788-1862), a Polish military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent landowner and philanthropist in the region of Galicia.

During the 19th century, the Wesolek name appeared in various historical records, including the birth and marriage registers of several towns and villages in the Krakow and Lublin regions. For example, in 1842, a Tomasz Wesolek was born in the village of Brzesko, while in 1869, a Zofia Wesolek married a local farmer in the town of Tarnów.

Another notable individual with the Wesolek surname was Maria Wesolek (1875-1949), a Polish artist and painter who was renowned for her landscapes and portraits. Her works were exhibited in several prestigious galleries across Europe during her lifetime.

While the Wesolek name originated in Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its historical roots and significance remain deeply tied to the Polish culture and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wesolek

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

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

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

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