Wozny last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Wozny

A Polish occupational surname for a sexton or church caretaker.

Wozny, 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 Wozny surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wozny in America

Wozny is the 24685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wozny surname appeared 1,011 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 Wozny.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wozny 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 24685 24491 0.79%
Count 1,011 957 5.49%
Proportion per 100k 0.34 0.35 -2.90%

The history of the last name Wozny

The surname Wozny has its origins in Poland, a country with a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. The name is primarily associated with the region that was historically part of Lesser Poland, now encompassing areas such as Małopolska and Podkarpacie. The earliest records of the surname date back to the late medieval period, around the 14th and 15th centuries.

The surname Wozny is derived from the Old Polish word wózny, which means "servant" or "official." This term was used to describe a person who held an administrative or managerial role, often in the service of the nobility or local government. The word itself originated from the verb wozić, meaning "to carry" or "to transport," indicating that a wózny might have been responsible for overseeing transport or logistics.

Historical references to the surname Wozny can be found in various documents and legal records from the medieval period. For instance, an early mention of the name appears in 15th-century court records from Kraków, where a certain Jan Wozny was documented as a witness in legal proceedings. Such records provide insight into the roles and occupations of individuals with the surname within Polish society at the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname is Stanisław Wozny, born in the early 1500s. Records from the town of Tarnów indicate that Stanisław was involved in local governance, serving as a minor official in the administrative structure of the region. His work contributed to the day-to-day management of municipal affairs.

In the 17th century, another notable figure emerged, Andrzej Wozny, born in 1610 and died in 1683. He was known for his contributions to the local economy, working as a merchant and playing a significant role in trade and commerce in the city of Lublin. His influence extended beyond business, as he was also involved in charitable activities and community development.

The Wozny surname appears in various forms and spellings throughout history, reflecting the linguistic and dialectal variations of different regions. In some records, it is spelled as Wozni or Woznik, though these variations remain relatively rare. The core meaning and occupational association of the surname remained consistent across these different spellings.

Moving into the 18th century, Kazimierz Wozny, born in 1742, became a prominent figure. He was known for his academic achievements, particularly in the field of mathematics. Kazimierz made significant contributions to mathematical theory and was a respected educator, influencing the development of scientific thought in Poland.

In the 19th century, another influential individual with the surname was Józef Wozny, born in 1824 and died in 1899. He was a politician and social activist, deeply involved in the movements for Polish independence. Józef's efforts were pivotal in mobilizing public support and advocating for political reform during a period of significant upheaval.

By examining the history of the Wozny surname, it becomes evident that individuals with this name have played various important roles across centuries. From local officials and merchants to academics and political activists, the name Wozny has been associated with a diverse array of occupations and contributions to Polish society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wozny

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

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 Wozny was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.94% 970
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.99% 10
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.58% 16
Hispanic Origin 1.19% 12

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 Wozny has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.94% 96.76% -0.85%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.99% 0.52% 62.25%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.58% 0.63% 85.97%
Hispanic 1.19% 1.36% -13.33%

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

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

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"Wozny last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wozny-surname-popularity/.

"Wozny last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wozny-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Wozny last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wozny-surname-popularity/.

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