2000
#124,109
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 128
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Wojtala
A surname of Polish origin possibly related to the words "wojt" meaning village head or "wójt" meaning reeve or magistrate.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 162 Americans carry the last name Wojtala. That puts it at #127,013 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,115,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wojtala surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
162
1 in 2,115,768
Census rank
#127,013
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
141
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 141 bearers of the surname Wojtala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 127013th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wojtala, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wojtala
The surname Wojtala has its origins in Poland, deriving from the Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family. Its etymology traces back to the region of Mazovia, an area known for its historical significance in Poland. The name Wojtala is believed to be a diminutive or a derivative of the Polish given name Wojciech, which translates to "joyful warrior" or "he who is happy in battle."
The formation of the surname Wojtala follows a pattern common in Polish and Slavic naming conventions where diminutives, occupational references, or patronymics are attached to given names. It connects to old Polish words like woj, meaning "war" or "battle," and ciech, meaning "joy."
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Wojtala appears in historical manuscripts from the 16th century. Documents from the period of Polish nobility, known as the Szlachta, mention a family by the name of Wojtala residing in the Masovian Voivodeship. This area, now central Poland, was historically significant during the formation of the Polish state.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, records indicate that the Wojtala family was involved in various local governmental and military roles. A notable historical figure, Jan Wojtala, born in 1598, served as a court official in the town of Płock. His contributions to local governance were well-documented in the town's archival records.
In the 18th century, Kazimierz Wojtala, born in 1732, was a prominent landowner in the region of Mazovia. He became known for his philanthropic endeavors, particularly in funding local schools and churches. His name appears in several charitable records from the period, recognizing his impact on the community.
Moving into the 19th century, the political landscape of Poland changed dramatically with partitions and shifting borders. Jozef Wojtala, born in 1821 in the town of Mława, was known for his involvement in the January Uprising of 1863-1864 against Russian rule. Jozef's efforts are documented in various revolutionary records, highlighting his role as a local leader.
Another historical figure, Maria Wojtala, born in 1878, made significant contributions to Polish literature. She authored several works of poetry and prose, which were published and widely read in early 20th-century Poland. Her literary influence is noted in numerous bibliographic references.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, records show that the Wojtala surname appeared in other regions of Poland and even in expatriate communities abroad. Szymon Wojtala, born in 1892, emigrated to the United States and worked actively within Polish-American cultural organizations, where he continued to promote Polish heritage and traditions.
The surname Wojtala, throughout its history, has been associated with various professions and roles within Polish society. From court officials and landowners to revolutionaries and literary figures, individuals bearing this surname have contributed significantly to the cultural and historical tapestry of Poland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wojtala
Among Census respondents with the surname Wojtala, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Wojtala bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Wojtala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9% · 131
- Hispanic or Latino2.8% · 4
- Black or African American2.1% · 3
- Two or more races1.4% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wojtala
Wojtala appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-7 bearers (-5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,195 places
2020
#127,013
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 141
+20 bearers (+16.5%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 11,291 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #124,109 | 128 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.5%) | Down 14,195 places |
| 2020 | #127,013 | 141 | 0.05 | +20 bearers (+16.5%) | Up 11,291 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Wojtala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #127,013 | 8.2% |
| Count | 121 | 141 | 16.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 17.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wojtala bearers went from 121 to 141 (+16.5% change). The surname moved up 11,291 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #127,013.
FAQ
Wojtala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wojtala?
Name Census estimates that about 162 living Americans carry the surname Wojtala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,115,768 residents.
How common is Wojtala?
Wojtala ranks #127,013 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 141 people with the surname Wojtala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (162), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Wojtala.
Has Wojtala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wojtala went from 121 recorded bearers to 141. That is an increase of 20 (+16.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #138,304 to #127,013.
What does the Census say about the background of Wojtala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wojtala, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Black (2.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Wojtala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.9% (131 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wojtala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.9%), Hispanic (2.8%), Black (2.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Wojtala (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Wojtala mean?
A surname of Polish origin possibly related to the words "wojt" meaning village head or "wójt" meaning reeve or magistrate. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Wojtala (0.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Wojtala?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.