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

Witek, 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 Witek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Witek in America

Witek is the 19200th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Witek surname appeared 1,414 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 Witek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Witek 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 Witek

The surname Witek originates from Poland, with historical roots stretching back several centuries. It is a surname of Slavic origin, primarily associated with the Polish language and culture. The name is derived from the personal name Wit, which comes from the older Slavic word "vit," meaning "lord" or "ruler." This etymology hints at a noble or authoritative origin, suggesting that early bearers of the name held positions of significance or were highly respected in their communities.

In historical records, the surname Witek can be traced back to the medieval period. Various manuscripts and documents from the 14th and 15th centuries contain references to individuals bearing this surname. One of the earliest mentions appears in Polish court records from the region of Mazovia, a historical region in central and north-eastern Poland. These early references highlight the widespread usage of the name among the Polish nobility and common folk alike.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Witek is Jan Witek, born in 1450. Jan was a prominent landowner in the Lesser Poland region and played a significant role in local governance. His contributions to regional administration are documented in several legal texts from the late 15th century. Another influential individual was Katarzyna Witek, born in 1510, known for her involvement in the religious and cultural life of Kraków, then the capital of Poland.

The Witek name also appears in records relating to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the 16th and 17th centuries. An important historical reference is found in the chronicles of the Battle of Khotyn (1621), where a soldier named Andrzej Witek is mentioned for his valor. This battle was a significant conflict between the Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire, and Andrzej's deeds were recorded in military annals.

In the 18th century, another noteworthy individual was Stanisław Witek, a prominent figure in the Enlightenment movement in Poland. Born in 1725, Stanisław was an advocate for educational reforms and contributed to several scholarly works aimed at modernizing Polish society. His efforts during this period of intellectual and cultural growth left a lasting impact on Polish academia.

As the surname Witek continued to be passed down through generations, it also migrated with people who moved to different parts of Europe and beyond. One example is Anna Witek, born in 1802, who emigrated to the United States in the early 19th century. She became a prominent community leader among Polish immigrants in Chicago and played a key role in establishing cultural associations that preserved Polish heritage in America.

The surname Witek has a rich history intertwined with the cultural and historical tapestry of Poland. From its noble origins to its spread across continents, the name has been borne by influential figures who contributed to their communities and made their mark in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Witek

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

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

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

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