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

Wodecki, 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 Wodecki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wodecki in America

Wodecki is the 88020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wodecki surname appeared 211 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 Wodecki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wodecki 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 Wodecki

The surname Wodecki has its origins in Poland, a country with a rich history of noble lineage and deep cultural roots. Historically, surnames in Poland often derived from place names, occupations, or physical attributes. Wodecki is most likely derived from a geographic or topographic feature, specifically connected to the Polish word "woda," which means "water." This suggests that the name might have originally referred to people living near water bodies like rivers or lakes.

The earliest references to surnames similar to Wodecki can be traced back to medieval times in Poland. These names appeared in various forms, including Wodka, Wodecka, and Wodecki. Records from the 15th century reveal the presence of individuals bearing this surname in regions such as Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, and Mazovia. For instance, ancient manuscripts and legal documents from this era frequently mention families associated with water-related features or occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wodecki is found in the 1492 records of King Casimir IV Jagiellon’s reign, which list a certain Piotr Wodecki as a landowner in Greater Poland. The name's appearance in such documents suggests that it was likely linked to families of some prominence, possibly due to land ownership or local influence.

Among the notable individuals bearing this surname is Vincenzo Wodecki, a 16th-century knight known for his service in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army. Born in 1520 and dying in 1584, Vincenzo contributed to various military campaigns during his lifetime, earning a respected place in Polish history. Another prominent figure is Anna Wodecka, an 18th-century writer and poet born in 1735. She enriched Polish literature with her poetic contributions and was widely celebrated by contemporaries.

A more recent but historically significant Wodecki is Zbigniew Wodecki, born in 1950 and passing away in 2017. Zbigniew was a multi-talented musician, composer, and singer who left an indelible mark on Polish popular music. His works remain beloved, showcasing the cultural depth and evolving nature of the Polish identity. Before him, Jan Wodecki, a 19th-century educator and mathematician born in 1820, contributed to the development of educational curricula in Poland.

Additionally, Helena Wodecka was an influential social and political activist in the early 20th century. Born in 1888 and dying in 1943, she participated actively in movements advocating for women's rights and social reforms, leaving a lasting impact on Polish society. These figures, spanning several centuries, highlight the diverse contributions of individuals with the Wodecki surname to fields such as military, literature, music, education, and social advocacy.

A historical investigation into place names reveals that many regions associated with the surname Wodecki have water-related names, supporting the etymological connection to "woda." Such patterns in naming conventions further corroborate the geographic and topographical origins of the surname.

Overall, the surname Wodecki encapsulates a rich historical and cultural legacy, rooted in Poland's medieval past and extending into the present through the notable achievements of its bearers. The name's association with water underscores the importance of natural features in shaping human identity and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wodecki

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!