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

Woda, 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 Woda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woda in America

Woda is the 83834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woda surname appeared 224 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 Woda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Woda 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 Woda

The surname Woda finds its origins in the regions of Central and Eastern Europe, specifically within Poland. The historical emergence of the name dates back to the medieval period, approximately the 13th century. In this time, surnames were starting to be adopted in Polish society primarily for purposes of identification and distinction.

The name Woda is derived from the Polish word "woda" which translates to "water." This suggests that the name may have been originally given to someone living near a body of water, such as a river, lake, or spring, or someone who worked with or had a significant relationship to water, such as a fisherman or a water carrier. The surname could also have come from a topographical feature, indicating a place name associated with water.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in ancient medieval manuscripts from the region of Lesser Poland. In 1386, a man named Wojciech Woda appeared in the land registers of Kraków, indicating the name's established presence in Polish lands by then. These records are significant in understanding how surnames began to take a more definite form and become hereditary.

In the early 15th century, another significant bearer of the name was Jakub Woda, a minor noble involved in local administration in Poznań. His contributions to local governance were documented in the municipal chronicles of 1414, adding further legitimacy and historical proof of the surname's usage in prominent societal roles.

Spanning into the late 16th century, Stanisław Woda was a notable figure associated with the military. Born in 1557, he was remembered for his role during the Livonian War, aiding in the defense of Polish territories against Swedish incursions. His service was documented in various military annals of the time, reflecting the varied professions and social standings of those who bore the surname.

Fast-forwarding to the 18th century, Jan Woda, a scholar and theologian from Warsaw, made significant contributions to religious and philosophical discourse in Poland. Born in 1712, his writings and sermons were widely circulated and remained influential, indicating the presence of the surname in intellectual and religious spheres.

Lastly, in the early 19th century, Kazimierz Woda, born in 1796, was a renowned artist and painter who contributed significantly to the cultural landscape of Poland. His works, primarily focused on portraying natural landscapes and rural life, demonstrated the underlying meaning of his surname through his artistic depiction of water and nature.

Throughout history, the surname Woda has been associated with a diverse range of individuals, each reflecting a different aspect of its etymological roots linked to water. Its presence in various records and documents over centuries underscores the name's enduring legacy and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woda

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

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

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

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