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

Wojtach, 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 Wojtach surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wojtach in America

Wojtach is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wojtach surname appeared 131 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 Wojtach.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wojtach 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 Wojtach

The surname Wojtach originates from Poland, specifically from regions that were part of the historical Lesser Poland Voivodeship, dating back to the late medieval period, around the 14th and 15th centuries. The name itself is of Polish origin and derived from the Slavic given name Wojciech, which combines "woj," meaning 'warrior' or 'war', with "ciech," meaning 'joy' or 'happiness'. This implies a warrior who brings joy or takes pleasure in battle.

The name Wojciech was a popular given name in medieval Poland, largely due to the cult of Saint Wojciech, also known as Adalbert of Prague, a Bohemian missionary and martyr who died in 997 AD. The veneration of Saint Wojciech spread across the Slavic territories, influencing the adoption of the name and its variants, including Wojtach, as hereditary surnames.

Historic references to surnames similar to Wojtach can be found in old manuscripts and parish records from the 15th and 16th centuries. For example, in the "Acta Tomiciana," a collection of documents from the Jagiellonian era, there are mentions of individuals with names similar to Wojtach. These records reflect the name's association with noble and knightly families who played significant roles in the military and political arenas of Poland.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Wojtach appears in land transaction records from Kraków Voivodeship in 1465, where a Jan Wojtach was noted as a witness to a land sale. This early record indicates the family's involvement in local governance and property management during the late medieval period.

Several notable individuals with the surname Wojtach have made their mark in Polish history. Stanisław Wojtach, a 16th-century knight known for his participation in the Battle of Orsha in 1514, is often cited in historical accounts of Polish-Lithuanian military triumphs. His bravery and leadership were commemorated in several contemporary ballads and accounts.

Another prominent figure is Marcin Wojtach, a Kraków-based merchant from the early 17th century, whose extensive trade networks stretched from Warsaw to the Duchy of Prussia. Marcin's commercial success and benefactions to local churches earned him a respected place in the annals of Kraków's civic history.

In the world of academia, Józef Wojtach, an 18th-century scholar, made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. Born in 1722 and educated at the University of Kraków, Józef's treatises on celestial mechanics were widely recognized, and he was a member of several European scientific societies until his death in 1789.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Antoni Wojtach, an influential figure in the Polish independence movement. Born in 1804, Antoni became a key organizer of the November Uprising of 1830 against the Russian Empire. His leadership and strategic acumen were crucial, and he remained a celebrated national hero until his death in 1864.

Lastly, Ignacy Wojtach, born in 1868, was a pioneering figure in Polish industrialization. An engineer and inventor, Ignacy played a pivotal role in developing the nascent railway network in Poland. His innovations in locomotive design and rail infrastructure were instrumental in modernizing the country's transportation system up until his death in 1935.

The surname Wojtach carries a legacy of martial valor, scholarly achievement, commercial enterprise, and nationalistic fervor. Each bearer of the name has contributed to the rich tapestry of Polish history, solidifying Wojtach as a surname of considerable historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wojtach

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

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

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

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