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

Yurek, 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 Yurek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yurek in America

Yurek is the 34878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yurek surname appeared 647 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 Yurek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yurek 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 Yurek

The surname Yurek finds its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly within Poland, although it also appears with some frequency in neighboring countries such as Ukraine and Belarus. The earliest substantial records trace the name back to the early 14th century in Polish regions. This surname is derived from a diminutive or affectionate form of the given name Jerzy, which itself is the Polish variant of George, stemming from the Greek Georgios meaning "farmer" or "earthworker."

The regional roots of Yurek can be found in areas that were historically part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is not common in the central or western parts of Poland but is more typically associated with the eastern borders, reflecting cross-cultural influences. Early spellings include variants such as Jurek and Jureck; these are essentially phonetic variations that depend on local dialects and orthographic practices of the time.

Historical documentation of the name appears in various genealogical records and legal documents from the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable early record includes a mention of a Michal Jurek, a landowner from the Lublin Voivodeship, whose name appeared in property transactions dated around 1480. These documents highlight the spread of the name among the lower nobility and rural landowners.

In further historical references, the name appears in records from the late Medieval period and the Renaissance. For instance, Jan Yurek, born in 1523 and deceased by 1585, was a prominent figure during the Livonian War, serving as a commander in the Polish-Lithuanian military formations. Another significant individual is Anna Yurek, a well-known 17th-century herbalist from Kraków, who was born in 1618 and died in 1692. Her contribution to traditional medicine and her compiled manuscripts of medicinal recipes were well-regarded in her time.

Additional notable figures include Piotr Yurek, a noted academic from the University of Prague, who made significant strides in the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the 19th century. Born in 1834, he passed away in 1901, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly works that influenced Central European scientific communities.

In the 20th century, Jerzy Yurek, a Polish engineer born in 1902, played an instrumental role in the early development of radio technology in Poland before his death in 1965. His work helped lay the foundation for advances in communication technologies in Eastern Europe.

These historical glimpses into the surname Yurek illustrate its rich cultural tapestry and significance across various domains, from military and academic contributions to traditional practices and technological advancements. The name's endurance over the centuries underscores its deep roots and continued presence in historical and genealogical records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yurek

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

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

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

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